The number of dementia sufferers or those suspected to have the disease who were reported missing in Japan reached a record 19,039 in 2023, up 330 from the previous year amid the rapidly aging population, police data shows.
The figure has increased each year since first being compiled in 2012. Police said they are working on steps to locate missing individuals more quickly, such as by flying drones and using GPS data from devices distributed to the elderly in some municipalities.
Including those reported missing before 2023, 18,221 were found alive, of whom 17,988 were located within three days of filing a missing person report, the National Police Agency said.
The overall number of missing people in Japan stood at 90,144…
