Epidemiological and economic burden of dementia in the Middle East and North African region.

BackgroundDementia is a global health challenge projected to nearly triple by 2050, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Understanding its epidemiology and economic impact is vital for public health planning.ObjectiveThis systematic review aims to synthesize evidence on dementia, particularly the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease, its economic burden, and caregiving in MENA countries, to facilitate informed policy-making and effective resource allocation.MethodsWe performed a random-effects meta-analysis to determine the pooled prevalence of dementia from studies published between 2014 and 2025 in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Two reviewers independently selected and extracted data, assessing bias risk with the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. This review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024550935).ResultsTwelve studies met the criteria, showing dementia prevalence in MENA countries from 1.1% to 7.9%, with higher rates in Iran, Israel, and Lebanon, highlighting the need for public health campaigns. The annual estimated cost for those aged 50 and older is about USD 8.18 billion. Caregiving mainly fell to female family members, with larger socioeconomic impacts than in other regions.ConclusionsDementia is a growing public health concern in MENA, requiring improved healthcare infrastructure, increased caregiver support, and targeted research to fill knowledge gaps.