Dementia challenge ahead for Wales as numbers soar

New research launched today by the Alzheimer's Society warns that 48,000 people in Wales will have dementia by 2021.

The London School of Economics and King's College London research, commissioned by the Alzheimer's Society, reports that dementia currently affects 37,000 people in Wales.

Cardiff and Swansea have the highest number of people with dementia today, while districts including Ceredigion and Powys will see the biggest growth in dementia.

Ian Thomas, Wales director of the Alzheimer's Society says,

'This report gives us a clear picture of the scale of dementia here and now. We know that the number of people with dementia is set to increase by nearly a third by 2021.

We need dementia to be treated as an health and social care priority by the Welsh Assembly, local authorities and health boards to ensure that people with dementia and their carers throughout Wales have services and support that meet their needs.'

For more information contact the Alzheimer's Society press office.

Notes for editors

• The Wales research supplements the Dementia UK report published by the Alzheimer's Society in February 2007. The independent research provides authoritative estimates for the number of people with dementia and future projections.
• Dementia costs the UK £17 billion per year, or £539 per second.
• 1 in 3 older people will end their lives with a form of dementia.
• 700,000 people in the UK are affected by dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051. 1 in 5 people over 80 have dementia.
• The Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and those who care for them. The Alzheimer's Society works in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
• As a charity, the Alzheimer's Society depends on the generosity of the public to help it care, research and campaign for people with dementia. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or by visiting http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/. 

Numbers of people with dementia by local authority today, with projections to 2021 

All data taken from the Dementia UK report 2007.