ONS: Dementia in top five causes of death

New data has shown dementia is now among the top five causes of death in the UK.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that the condition is now the second highest cause of death in women and fifth highest in men.

It was noted in the statistics that the deaths of 25,767 women and 11,995 men were attributable to a form of dementia.

Commenting on the release of the data, director of external affairs for the Alzheimer's Society Andrew Chidgey stated dementia is the biggest health challenge of this generation.

"With numbers of people with the condition expected to soar to over a million in the next decade, the rates we are seeing today are likely to be a fraction of the numbers in future," he said.

A study carried out at the University of Lisbon, Santa Maria Hospital in Portugal recently found staying physically active can enable older adults to reduce their risk of developing dementia.

Find out about dementia care and support services at Barchester care homes.