Japan Faces Rising Dementia Challenges Amid Aging Population
Japan is experiencing a significant rise in dementia cases, impacting its aging population dramatically. Last year, over 18,000 dementia patients left their homes; nearly 500 were found dead, with such cases having doubled since 2012. This situation is acute given that people aged 65 and older now constitute about 30% of Japan's population, the second-highest proportion worldwide after Monaco.
Health and social care costs related to dementia are forecasted to escalate sharply, projected to reach 14 trillion yen by 2030, up from 9 trillion yen in 2025. In response, the government strategy is increasingly focusing on technology to manage care pressures, deploying GPS-based tracking and wearable tags designed to locate missing persons quickly.
Innovations include Fujitsu and Acer Medical's aiGait system, which analyzes posture and walking patterns to detect early signs of dementia, allowing clinicians to intervene sooner. Waseda University is also developing AIREC, a 150-kilogram humanoid caregiver robot that may assist with daily activities and, eventually, tasks such as diaper changes and bed sore prevention.
Care-home robots currently provide music, guided stretching, and night monitoring; however, fully precise human-robot interaction is anticipated to be realized in about five years. Additionally, Poketomo, a compact 12cm social robot, supports patients by reminding them to take medications, providing weather updates, and offering conversation to reduce social isolation while supplementing caregiver efforts.
Social interventions remain crucial, as demonstrated by the Restaurant of Mistaken Orders in Sengawa, Tokyo, where dementia sufferers interact actively with staff, underscoring the importance of community support alongside technological advancements in care.
