Demographic ageing proceeds apace in all world regions (United Nations, 2003). The proportion of older people increases as mortality falls and life expectancy increases. Population growth slows as fertility declines to replacement levels. Latin America, China and India are experiencing unprecedentedly rapid demographic ageing (Figs 1 and 2).

Demographic ageing is proceeding especially rapidly in Latin America. Those aged 65 years and over will increase from 33.3 million (6% of the total population) in 2005 to 56.3 million (8.5%) in 2020 and 110.2 million (14.7%) in 2040. A recent review drew attention to the relatively small number of population-based studies of dementia in Latin American countries (Ferri et al, 2005). Estimates based on the literature suggested 1.8 million people with dementia in 2001 increasing to 4.1 million by 2020 and 9.1 million by 2040. The increase, more than a doubling of the number of people with dementia between 2000 and 2020, was the most marked for any world region. Arguably, health and social finance systems are not well placed to meet the needs of the growing numbers of frail and dependent elderly people.

According to the 2001 census, India is home to more than 76 million people aged 60 years and over. This age-group, currently only 7.4% of the population, is expected to grow dramatically in the coming few decades. Analysis of the census data shows substantial variation in the rate of demographic ageing across India: at present, 10.5% of Kerala's population is older than 60 years, while in Dadra and Nagarhaveli this proportion is only 4%. Regions with more favourable health indicators seem to be ageing faster and the demand for specialist services will soon be evident in such places. There is a growing realisation that the care of older people with disabilities makes enormous demands on their carers. Terms such as ‘dementia’ and ‘Alzheimer's disease’ are now better understood. This was not the case when the Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI) initiated awareness programmes. However, dementia remains a largely hidden problem in those disadvantaged parts of India where poverty and illiteracy remain prevalent.

Iraq is known to be the cradle of civilisation — a country with a rich history. Present-day Iraq occupies the greater part of the ancient land of Mesopotamia, the plain between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Some of the world's greatest ancient civilisations arose in this area, and Iraq possesses a huge number of historical monuments and archaeological sites.

The Sultanate of Oman is located in the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula. It has a distinctive history and subcultures. Its seafaring tradition has endowed the country with various ethnic and linguistic groups, with Arabic being a dominant language and Ibadhi being the dominant sect of Islam (Al-Nami, 1971). Oman in the 1970s saw rapid development, triggered by the discovery of oil, which took place under enlightened new political leadership.

The State of Qatar is a peninsula overlooking the Arabian Gulf, with an area of 11400 km2. The Al Thani family has ruled the country since the mid-1800s. The population of just over 860000 is of a multi-ethnic nature, and predominantly resides in the capital, Doha. Only about 20% of the population is Qatari. Around 73% of the population are between the ages of 15 and 64 years. Life expectancy at birth is 74.8 years for males and 73.8 years for females. The literacy rate is 94.9% for men and 82.3% for women. Arabic is the official language and English is a common second language. The economy is dominated by oil and natural gas, and the country has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. The per capita government expenditure on health is $574 (international dollars), which is among the highest in the region.

The history of Australian psychiatry is entwined with the impact of European (British) invasion and settlement, initially in 1788, to form penal colonies to alleviate the overcrowding of English jails, which generated a masculine-dominated, individualistic culture. As European settlement in Australia expanded, the colonisers tried to come to terms with this remote, vast landscape and fought over land and resources with the original Aboriginal inhabitants, who had been there between 40000 and 60000 years. Australian psychiatry was profiled in a previous article in International Psychiatry (issue 10, October 2005).

Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) is the international federation of 75 Alzheimer associations throughout the world and is in official relations with the World Health Organization. ADI was established to raise awareness about dementia, strengthen Alzheimer associations and provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life of people with dementia and their families.