As many as 1,500 Bermudians could develop dementia by next year, though the rates of dementia could be double this figure.

The Dementia Integrated Care Pathway Report said that dementia prevalence could reach anywhere between 1.7 and 2.3 per cent by next year, or about 1,100 to 1,500 people.

However, statistics given by Bermuda's medical centres suggest that the number of people potentially with dementia was as high as 3,657 people as of 2024.

The report said: “Data provided by the Bermuda Hospitals Board [BHB] on unique patients with dementia-related diagnoses in 2024, based on International Classification of Diseases, 9th and 10th revision codes, were 3,657 indicated persons.”

However, it added: “King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Geriatric Clinic, which provides formal dementia diagnoses, provided services to only 496 of the 3,657 individuals during the same period.

“It is unclear if all persons indicated as having dementia had a clinical diagnosis.”

The report was released on Sunday by the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors in collaboration with the Bermuda Health Council and the Ministry of Health.

It came as Bermuda got closer to a milestone that nearly 25 per cent of the island, or about 15,000 people, were expected to be 65 years old or older by next year.

The report said that because of projected trends in population ageing, the presence of “modifiable risk factors for dementia” and global population growth, dementia cases were expected to triple to the Alzheimer’s Disease International prediction of 115.4 million around the world by 2050.

However, it said that estimates from Bermudian providers suggested that the island’s existing dementia burden was closer to what would have been anticipated for the country by 2050.

It was explained in the report: “The estimates were determined by local memory care specialists that considered international dementia prevalence, local referrals and caseloads, and the high prevalence of dementia risk factors found in Bermuda.

“As the estimates are significantly higher than would be expected, they require further exploration and review.”

The report emphasised that because of limitations in data collection, Bermuda did not have a defined or confirmed prevalence rate based on verified local data.

It went on to say: “Current data suggests that a significant number of Bermuda’s older adults experience cognitive decline or dementia-related symptoms.

“However, the exact prevalence of clinically confirmed dementia has not yet been established.

“Variations in diagnostic practices and data sources mean that existing figures should be interpreted with caution.

“Ongoing work to standardise diagnostic pathways and strengthen data collection will enable more accurate national estimates in the future.”