Alzheimer’s Cases in Belgium Could Surge 65% by 2050
The number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders in Belgium is projected to rise by nearly 65% by 2050, according to new data released Monday by the public utility foundation Stop Alzheimer. The figures paint a stark picture of the growing healthcare challenge facing the country as its population ages.
The Projections
According to updated prevalence figures, the number of Alzheimer’s patients in Belgium is expected to climb from 214,736 in 2025 to 353,357 in 2050 — an increase of 64.55%. The data was compiled by Expertisecentrum Dementie Vlaanderen using the 2026 risk model from Alzheimer Europe and regional demographic projections from Statbel, Belgium’s statistical office.
The increase will be felt across all regions, though with notable variation. Wallonia and the German-speaking Community are projected to see a 63.36% rise (from 63,801 to 104,227 cases), while the Brussels-Capital Region faces a comparatively lower but still significant increase of 40.15% (from 15,304 to 21,449). Flanders, the most populous region, will see the largest absolute increase, rising from 135,631 to 227,681 cases.
As RTBF reported, the projections align with the January 2026 Alzheimer Europe report “The Prevalence of Dementia in Europe 2025,” which estimated a 64% increase in dementia cases across EU and non-EU European countries combined by 2050.
An Aging Population Driving the Crisis
Population aging remains the primary driver behind the projected surge. The risk of developing dementia is increasing among men across all age groups, while women — though globally still at higher risk — show decreases in some age brackets.
“We all hope for a major breakthrough in the development of treatments capable of slowing down, or even stopping, Alzheimer’s and related pathologies,” said Lucie Leroux, spokesperson for Stop Alzheimer, as quoted by Le Spécialiste. “But in the meantime, it is our collective responsibility to anticipate this evolution and guarantee quality support for those affected today and tomorrow.”
Prevention: A Crucial Lever
One of the most striking findings in the report is the potential for prevention. According to the 2024 Lancet Commission report, up to 45% of future dementia cases could be associated with modifiable risk factors — including diet, physical activity, and social engagement. Crucially, the current projections do not account for the potential impact of strengthened prevention policies, suggesting there is significant room to mitigate the expected increase through public health interventions.
Research Investment Underway
Belgium has established itself as a leading center for Alzheimer’s research, with major institutions including KU Leuven, UCLouvain, ULB, ULiège, and VIB driving progress. Since its founding in 1995, Stop Alzheimer has allocated €43.48 million to 312 research projects.
In February 2026, the foundation awarded a record €5.05 million to 23 research projects, as VRT NWS reported. The funded work includes ultra-high-resolution PET scans capable of detecting Alzheimer’s at earlier stages, new therapeutic approaches, and improved diagnostic tools.
“This record amount reflects a growing awareness in society of the enormous impact of Alzheimer’s,” said Joost Martens, Director of Stop Alzheimer. “We are investing today in ideas that can make a difference tomorrow: from early detection to new treatments that can slow down or even stop the disease.”
The Broader European Challenge
The Belgian figures are part of a wider European trend. Jean Georges, Executive Director of Alzheimer Europe, emphasized the scale of the challenge: “The scale of the challenge posed by dementia across Europe is substantial and it is our sincere hope that our updated figures provide the impetus for decision-makers, both at the European and national levels, to prioritise dementia.”
What Lies Ahead
The projections raise urgent questions about Belgium’s preparedness. With an estimated 200,000 to 220,000 Belgians currently living with dementia — Alzheimer’s representing 60-70% of cases — the healthcare system will need significantly more specialized care facilities, trained professionals, and support systems for families by mid-century.
Regional disparities — particularly the lower projected increase in Brussels compared to Wallonia and Flanders — may require targeted policy responses. The question now is whether Belgian federal and regional governments will develop a coordinated National Dementia Plan in response to these projections, and whether public health campaigns targeting modifiable risk factors can help bend the curve.
As Stop Alzheimer’s Leroux put it: “This is precisely the mission of Stop Alzheimer: to advance research in all its forms — fundamental, clinical and psychosocial — to respond to today’s urgency while preparing tomorrow’s solutions.”