Age-Related Macular Degeneration vs. Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comparative Analysis of Global and Regional Prevalence

Seeing the Invisible Crisis: Why AMD Deserves the Same Global Urgency as Alzheimer’s

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are among the most common age-associated neurodegenerative conditions. While Alzheimer’s receives extensive public awareness, AMD remains comparatively overlooked despite its higher global prevalence and impact on quality of life. This paper compares the prevalence and projections of AD and AMD globally and in selected high-income regions, underscoring the need to elevate AMD awareness and screening.

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Introduction

As populations age, the burden of age-associated diseases is rising worldwide. AD is the leading cause of dementia and cognitive decline, while AMD is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss among older adults. Yet, public recognition and resource allocation are disproportionately focused on AD, even though AMD affects a substantially larger population worldwide.

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Global Prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease

According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 analysis, the number of adults aged ≥65 years living with AD and other dementias increased from 19.8 million in 1990 to 52.5 million in 2021, representing a 165% increase over three decades [1]. In 2019, dementia affected 57.4 million people globally and is projected to rise to 152.8 million by 2050 [2].

Regional data highlight particularly high prevalence in North America and Europe. In the United States, approximately 7.2 million adults aged ≥65 have AD, representing 11% of this age group, and prevalence rises to 33% among those aged ≥85 [3]. In Canada, nearly 600,000 individuals are living with dementia, with projections suggesting a doubling by 2050 [4]. Across Europe, more than 10 million people currently live with dementia, and prevalence increases steeply with age [2].

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Global Prevalence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

AMD affects approximately 200 million people worldwide and is projected to reach 288 million by 2040 [5]. Prevalence increases exponentially with age, with late AMD affecting 12.2% of individuals aged ≥80 in the United Kingdom [6].

In Canada, AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people aged ≥55, affecting more than 2.5 million individuals and accounting for 90% of new legal blindness cases annually [7]. In the United States, 18.3 million adults aged ≥40 have early AMD, while 1.5 million have late AMD; prevalence reaches 9% among those aged ≥80 [8]. In Europe, approximately 67 million people are affected, including 25.3% of adults aged ≥60 in early or intermediate stages and 2.4% with late-stage disease [9]. In France, AMD affects ~8% of adults ≥50 and up to 30% of those ≥75 [10], while Germany has an estimated 7 million AMD cases, including 400,000 with geographic atrophy [11].

Key insight: While Alzheimer's Disease (AD) receives much greater public attention, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) affects far more people worldwide and is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss—yet remains comparatively underrecognized.

 

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Future Projections: AMD vs. Alzheimer’s

While Alzheimer’s disease is projected to continue its steep rise, AMD is expected to grow even faster in absolute numbers, becoming one of the most common age-associated diseases worldwide. According to the Global Burden of Disease and World Alzheimer Report 2024, the number of people living with dementia, primarily Alzheimer’s disease, is forecast to increase from 57.4 million in 2019 to 152.8 million by 2050 (a 2.7-fold rise) [1][2]. This growth will be driven by aging populations, with the steepest increases in Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East.

In comparison, AMD is projected to grow from approximately 200 million people in 2020 to 288 million by 2040 (a 1.44-fold rise) [5]. This makes AMD one of the single most prevalent chronic conditions of aging. By 2040, Asia alone will account for 113 million AMD cases, representing nearly 40% of the global total, while Europe will see a rise to 69 million and North America to 25 million.

Although the relative growth rate of Alzheimer’s is higher, the absolute burden of AMD will remain larger than that of Alzheimer’s for the foreseeable future, yet AMD receives a fraction of the public awareness, research funding, and preventive policy planning allocated to dementia.

Global Projections of AMD and Alzheimer's Disease Cases 

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Discussion

While Alzheimer’s disease receives broad recognition as a global health crisis, AMD—despite its higher prevalence—remains underrepresented in public discourse and policy. Both conditions threaten independence and quality of life in older adults, but unlike Alzheimer’s, AMD benefits from modifiable risk factors and interventions (diet, lifestyle, and nutritional support) that can slow progression if started early. The lack of public awareness about AMD delays early diagnosis, contributing to preventable vision loss.

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Conclusion

As populations continue to age, both AMD and AD will expand substantially in prevalence. While AD rightly commands major attention, AMD warrants an equally robust response through public awareness, screening, and preventive strategies to reduce its growing burden.

 

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Table — Prevalence of AD vs AMD

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References

1. GBD 2021 Dementia Forecasting Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, 1990–2021. J Glob Health. 2025;15:04156.

2. WHO. Global status report on dementia 2021. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021.

3. Alzheimer’s Association. 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimer’s Dement. 2024;20(4):e52032.

4. Alzheimer Disease International. World Alzheimer Report 2024. London: ADI; 2024.

5. Wong WL, et al. Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2014;2(2):e106–e116.

6. Owen CG, et al. Prevalence of late AMD in the UK population aged ≥50 years. Br J Ophthalmol.

7. Canadian Ophthalmological Society. AMD in Canada: Epidemiology and burden. COS; 2023.

8. National Eye Institute. Statistics on AMD in the United States. NEI; 2019.

9. European Eye Epidemiology (E3) Consortium. AMD prevalence in Europe. Ophthalmology.

10. Bourhis L, et al. Epidemiology of AMD in France. Rev Prat.

11. Finger RP, et al. Prevalence and projections of AMD in Germany. Ophthalmologe.