AUTHOR=Gao Yitian , Zhou Wanqiong , Wang Qiuyi , Zhai Qianyi , Zhou Lanshu 

TITLE=Global, regional, and national burden of mental disorders and substance use disorders in older adults from 1990 to 2021: a systematic analysis and future trend prediction study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1638646

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1638646

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=IntroductionAs the global population ages, mental health has become a major public health issue affecting healthy aging. To estimate the burden, trends, and inequalities of mental disorders and substance use disorders (SUDs) among older adults aged ≥60 years at the global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2021.MethodsData from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The study focused on the burden of mental health conditions, analyzing mental disorders and SUDs prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), and average annual percentage change (AAPC), encompassing eight age groups (60–64 years, 65–69 years, 70–74 years, 75–79 years, 80–84 years, 85–89 years, 90–94 years, ≥95 years) for both men and women.ResultsGlobally in 2021, 1.09 billion individuals aged ≥60 years included 161.3 million (14.8%) with mental disorders and 19.2 million (1.8%) with SUDs. Mental disorders accounted for 22.8 million YLDs versus 2.10 million from SUDs in this population. From 1990 to 2021, age standardized prevalence of mental disorders increased by 3.7%, while SUDs declined by 8.7%, with lower SDI levels correlating with higher YLDs burdens overall. Over the next fifteen years, projections indicating stagnant trends in SUDs alongside slight declines in mental disorders highlight persistent unmet needs.DiscussionGlobal population aging demands heightened prioritization of mental healthcare for older adults. Today, mental and substance use disorders persist as major contributors to disease burden in this population. Our findings call for equitable mental resource allocation, age-adapted diagnostic tools, and policies targeting late-life psychosocial vulnerabilities.