Missing Dementia Sufferers Increase for 5th Yr in Japan

June 14, 2018

Tokyo- The number of dementia sufferers who were reported missing in Japan last year increased 431 from the previous year to 15,863, up for the fifth straight year, police data found Thursday.

The number kept rising since the National Police Agency started taking the data in 2012.

Of such sufferers, including those whose missing-person reports were submitted before 2017, police last year confirmed the whereabouts of 15,166 people and the deaths of 470 sufferers. Other cases, including people whose reports were withdrawn, numbered 125.

The whereabouts of missing dementia sufferers were established within the day of reporting in about 70 pct of all cases. The percentage reached 99 pct for those whose whereabouts were confirmed within a week.

Meanwhile, some cases remained unresolved for more than two years.

By prefecture, Osaka had the biggest number of dementia sufferers reported missing last year, at 1,801. Saitama came next with 1,734 missing sufferers, followed by Hyogo with 1,396.

The total number of people reported missing last year, including dementia sufferers, stood at 84,850, roughly unchanged over the past decade.

By age group, missing people between 10 and 19 logged the highest number per 100,000 population, although their number was on a downtrend over the past five years. Meanwhile, the number increased for people in their 70s over the same period.

Main reasons for disappearances were family issues for those between 10 and 19, and business- and work-related problems for those in their 20s and 30s. For those at or above 60, dementia was a key reason.

Police authorities have taken steps to better deal with the increase in missing dementia sufferers, such as prior registration of palm vein and other information on aged people and creation of databases of dementia sufferers.

Missing people at risk of serious harm that may affect their bodies or lives, including dementia sufferers, children and people who may commit suicide, are classified as special cases.

The number of special cases reported last year totaled 55,939. The whereabouts was established last year for 50,397 people, including cases reported before 2017.

The police confirmed the deaths of 3,286 people, including the nine whose dismembered bodies were found at an apartment in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo, in a high-profile murder case. Jiji Press