September 18, 2025

The Rising Social and Family Burden of Dementia Care

The rising social costs of caring for people with dementia present a serious problem. Family members provide most caregiving and cannot be officially measured. Even in the United States, the world’s largest economy, when the lost labor of patients and their families is factored in, the total annual cost exceeds $1 trillion (approximately ¥147 trillion). Dementia is roughly twice as prevalent as cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure and stroke, and it is draining society’s physical and economic resources.

Dementia presents a significant social burden, including the need for family caregiving. Supporting families of patients is also a key focus of World Alzheimer’s Day, observed on September 21 and recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and others. Alzheimer’s disease affects an estimated 6.5 million people in the United States. Researchers at the University of Washington project that social costs in 2024, divided into three main categories, will exceed $1 trillion.

The Situation in Japan

A study by Professor Toshiya Ikeda of the International University of Health and Welfare estimates that 53.6% of dementia-related costs in Japan come from informal caregiving by family members and others. In the United States, the Population Council estimates this figure at 56.6%. Dr. Yoshimasa Takase, who runs a clinic in Tokyo specializing in home medical care, points out that “the burden on family members who provide care tends to be overlooked.”

The number of dementia patients in Japan was estimated at 4.4 million in 2022 and is expected to surpass 5.8 million by 2050. Meanwhile, according to the Cabinet Office’s White Paper on an Aging Society, Japan’s working-age population (ages 15–64) is projected to decline by 29% by 2050, reaching 52.75 million compared to 2021. If more people are required to work while caring for family members, the overall social costs will increase even further.

Nobuyuki Kii, Director of the Japan Research Institute, has warned: “The number of people working while providing care is expected to reach about 3.18 million by 2030, and the resulting economic loss (including reduced labor productivity) is estimated at approximately ¥9 trillion.”

A Challenge to Human Dignity

September 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day. Irreversible brain diseases that everyone hopes to avoid continue to spread, and in Japan, it is projected that within five years, one in seven elderly people will be living with dementia.

The journey into the twilight of life with this disease is not just a medical condition but also an existential experience—one that challenges human dignity and inspires awe at the laws of nature. It is a realm of the soul beyond the understanding of shallow leaders who assume, “I will be an exception.”