West Midlands faces dementia challenge as numbers escalate

New research launched today by the Alzheimer's Society warns that more than 82,000 people in the region will be living with 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 60,000 people in the West Midlands.

Staffordshire and Birmingham have the highest numbers of people with dementia today, while districts including Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire and Herefordshire will see the biggest growth in dementia.

Elaine Ivis, West Midlands area manager of the Alzheimer's Society says,

'Dementia is set to dramatically increase in the West Midlands, yet it is unclear how our health and social services plan to deal with dementia now or in the future. The report clearly shows the scale of dementia in the West Midlands and predicts the number of people with dementia will grow by more than 20,000 people by 2021.

Dementia must become a local and national priority. We need leadership from local authorities and services to develop plans to respond to the challenge of dementia.'

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

Notes for editors

• The research supplements the Dementia UK report published by the Alzheimer's Society in February 2007.
• Prevalence estimates and future projections of the number of people with dementia are available by local authority and PCT districts.
• 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.
• Dementia affects one in five people over 80 and one in 20 people over 65.
• 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/.
• The Alzheimer's Society Dementia Helpline number is 0845 300 0336 or visit http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/.

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

More detailed data by age group, sex, PCT and parliamentary constituency is available by contacting the Alzheimer's Society press office.

All data taken from the Dementia UK report 2007.