How common is dementia?

Today, there are more than 944,000 people in the UK who have dementia. 1 in 11 people over the age of 65 have dementia in the UK.

Dementia is a collective term for loss of thinking and mental ability that’s severe enough to disrupt your day-to-day. Thinking abilities include things such as memory, language skills, problem-solving, visual perception, self-management, and the ability to focus and pay attention.

The number of people with dementia is increasing, mainly because of Britain’s ageing population. It is estimated that by 2030, the number of people with dementia in the UK will be more than 1 million. As many as half of the people in their 80s have some loss of thinking ability.

Key facts and dementia statistics

• Societal costs of dementia care in the UK are expected to nearly double, from £25bn today to around £47bn by 2050.
• The four main types of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia.
• By 2050, more than 153 million people could have dementia, up from 57 million in 2019.
• Dementia is already the seventh leading cause of death worldwide and one of the major causes of disability and dependency amongst older people.

Why is dementia so common now?

There are various reasons why there’s a prevalence of dementia in the UK. Factors include:

Ageing population – today, people are living for much longer. The older you get, the more likely you are to develop dementia. Age-related changes to the brain and other risk factors in later life contribute to developing dementia. According to Alzheimer's Research, certain forms of dementia appear to be linked to the build-up of certain proteins in the brain over a number of years. For example, evidence suggests that the build-up of proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease can occur up to 20 years before symptoms begin.

Genetic factors - Around 1 in 4 people aged 55 years and over has a close birth relative with dementia. There are two factors to consider:

• Single-gene diseases – if a child inherits the same gene that the parent has, they are very likely to develop the same disease.
• Complex or multiple-gene diseases - Whilst it's not possible to directly inherit, genes may increase the risk of developing dementia, following from the result of a complex disease. Complex diseases can be caused by risk factors such as diet or smoking.

Lifestyle factors:

The modern lifestyle is more harmful than ever before. People are taking in more pollutants daily, from air and transport to technology and chemicals found in food, all of which contribute to neurological conditions. According to Harvard Medical School research, individuals with both an unhealthy lifestyle and a high genetic risk score had almost two and a half times more risk than individuals with a low genetic score and a healthy lifestyle.

Other factors:

A better understanding of dementia and improved diagnosis. Healthcare workers have become more aware of dementia and its symptoms, and are now diagnosing patients, whereas in the past, they would have been undiagnosed. Before, there was a degree of stigma or reluctance to place dementia on death certificates, which affected the measured dementia rates. Today, there is encouragement to place dementia as a contributing factor to someone's death, as well as initiatives to push people to get a diagnosis.

Impact of dementia:

Getting a dementia diagnosis can be an overwhelming experience. You may go through a range of emotions. It's not common for people to feel frustrated, angry or shocked. For some people, getting a diagnosis may be a positive experience as they may feel relieved and have an explanation for their change in behaviour. A dementia diagnosis can impact families in a variety of ways, such as emotional distress and financial burdens due to caregiving demands.

Dementia is one of the UK’s most pressing healthcare challenges in the UK. It's been the leading cause of death for the past year. More diagnoses mean there are better ways of diagnosing, and this has led to more awareness and more accurate numbers.

What is the importance of counting how many people have dementia?

If we, as a society, are aware of how many people have dementia, it encourages more resources and planning. Public awareness generally partially mediates relationships, and more dementia research. It ensures that healthcare decision-makers are prepared and equipped to meet the needs and demands of those living with the condition.

If nothing changes, and we don’t recognise the growing number of people have dementia, it’ll continue to be a strain on individuals, our economy and the NHS.

What's happening in dementia research?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) drives the nation’s research to better understand the complex and varied causes of Alzheimer’s and related dementias, identify early signs of disease, and develop effective interventions to prevent or delay disease progression.

Early diagnosis and support for dementia

Recognising the signs early and getting an early dementia diagnosis means that you can manage your symptoms better, can adapt your lifestyle and help slow the progression of dementia. Not only this, but you can get better support and plan what you’d like your future to look like.

Can you prevent dementia?

Although there is no cure for dementia, there are things you can do in your daily life to reduce the risk of developing it. Researchers are still investigating ways to prevent it, as the exact cause remains unknown. Some diseases are linked to dementia. For example, if you have cardiovascular disease, the risk of having dementia increases.

• Healthy lifestyle
• Staying mentally active
• Regular health check-ups
• Keeping alcohol to a minimum
• Exercising for at least 150 minutes per week

Support for carers and people living with dementia:

Getting help and support as a carer - Alzheimer's Society

Dementia support services in your area | Age UK

Overview | Dementia: assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and their carers | Guidance | NICE

Help and advice, support for dementia carers

Every day, we support people living with dementia and help them continue living meaningful lives for as long as possible. See how we do that.