Major new report shows the impact of dementia in the UK

Today the Alzheimer's Society is publishing a major study on the social and economic impact of dementia in the UK.

The research, commissioned through King's College London and the London School of Economics provides the most detailed and robust picture to date of prevalence and economic impact of dementia in the UK.

The report shows that as the UK's population ages the number of people with dementia will grow substantially. It also shows that dementia costs the UK £17 billion a year.

What does the report say?

• There are currently 700,000 people with dementia in the UK
• There are currently 15,000 younger people with dementia in the UK. This is likely to be a major underestimate by up to three times because of the way the data relies on referrals to services
• There are over 11,500 people with dementia from black and minority ethnic groups in the UK
• There will be over a million people with dementia by 2025
• Two thirds of people with dementia are women
• The proportion of people with dementia doubles for every 5 year age group. One third of people over 95 have dementia
• 60,000 deaths a year are directly attributable to dementia. Delaying the onset of dementia by 5 years would reduce deaths directly attributable to dementia by 30,000 a year
• The financial cost of dementia to the UK is over £17 billion a year
• Family carers of people with dementia save the UK over £6 billion a year
• 64% of people living in care homes have a form of dementia
• Two thirds of people with dementia live in the community while one third live in a care home

What is the Alzheimer's Society calling for?

• Dementia to be made a national health and social care priority
• A substantial increase in publicly funded dementia research
• Improvement in dementia care skills
• Development of community based support
• Improved carer support
• A national debate on who pays for care
• Development of comprehensive integrated dementia care models