2025 China's Progress in Alzheimer's Disease: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment

China is facing a mounting Alzheimer’s disease (AD) crisis, with approximately 16 million people now living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias (ADRD)—nearly one-fourth of the global total. The national 2025 China Alzheimer Report, published in General Psychiatry, offers the most comprehensive evaluation of China’s progress in AD, updates on new therapies, and outlines strategies for prevention and care.

Based on the recent data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and collaborating institutions analyzed disease prevalence, mortality, years lived with disability (YLD), years of life lost (YLL) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

This study examines the epidemiology and disease burden of ADRD in China first, followed by diagnostic approaches, treatment of AD, and related clinical trials. Specifically, by 2021, 16.99 million people were affected, with women consistently showing almost double the rates of men. Prevalence and incidence increased sharply with age, peaking in those over 80, and have surged by over 240% since 1990. In 2021 alone, there were 2.91 million new cases and 0.49 million deaths, with the overall burden reaching 6.6 million YLL, 3.46 million YLD, and over 10 million DALYs, concentrated in eastern, southwestern, and northeastern provinces such as Shanghai, Sichuan, Liaoning, Jiangsu and Chongqing. Globally, China bears a disproportionately high ADRD burden, accounting for nearly 30% of global cases, deaths, and DALYs in 2021, with age-standardized prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates all higher than the global averages.

Diagnostic techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans, remain standard for detecting brain atrophy. Positron emission tomography (PET), neuropsychological assessments, fluid biomarkers, and genetic testing are emerging as early detection methods. Treatment options are also expanding beyond symptomatic drugs like donepezil, rivastigmine and memantine. Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), especially anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies, are gaining more attention. In all, this report underscores both the urgency and the opportunity, as demographic ageing drives the rising burden. Advances in diagnostics, innovative treatments, and expanding public health resources are beginning to shift the landscape.

“Our findings provide a comprehensive update on AD in China, including the latest diagnostic and treatment advancements, clinical outcomes, and an assessment of public health resources,” Dr. Wang, corresponding author of the report, said. “ The report also covers China’s ongoing clinical trials that showcase China’s innovative contributions to global AD research. “ By integrating policy directives with scientific advancements, China is strengthening its healthcare framework to address the challenges of an aging population, ensuring a healthier future for all.