The Economic Burden of Dementia in India

This paper provides the first estimate of the economic cost borne by Indian individuals living with dementia and their families based on nationally and state-wise representative data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI). We found that the annual household cost attributable to dementia was $571. This is a significant figure, equivalent to 20 percent of annual healthcare spending by the Indian government. Our results identify important differences in cost components relative to high-income countries, emphasizing the need for culturally tailored interventions to support people living with the condition and their families in the Indian context.