Raising awareness of the scale of dementia

Dementia was the leading cause of death in the UK in 2023. We’re using this statistic (the latest available) to raise awareness of the scale of the challenge of dementia.

Our research shows, whilst people may be concerned about dementia as a health condition, not enough people are aware of the scale of the problem, and how likely it is to directly affect them.  

This is despite the prevalence of dementia being so high, with around one million people living with a dementia in the UK today, and millions more caring for their loved ones.

Making dementia a priority in health and social care

We’re using this statistic in our advertising to help demonstrate the vast scale of dementia as one of the most urgent health and social care issues of our time. 

It also overturns the continuing, widespread misconception that dementia is just a natural, inevitable part of ageing, rather than being a terminal disease. 

We know that hearing this statistic may be scary, especially if you or a loved one are living with dementia. But that’s why it’s even more important we raise awareness of this terrible disease, the fact that it’s a terminal illness, and the reality of just how many people it affects. 

This will help us make dementia the priority it needs to be and, with your support, end the devastation it causes.

Where did the statistic come from?

We collated official data on primary causes of death from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for 2023 (the latest year data is available for all four nations).  

We analysed this data using leading cause of deaths groupings developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and adopted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in their reporting.  

This analysis revealed that, according to ONS classification, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease was the leading cause of death in the UK in 2023.

Ending the devastation caused by dementia

At Alzheimer’s Society, we know the steps it will take to create a future where dementia no longer devastates lives. And we’re leading the way, taking those crucial steps together with people from all the spheres of life dementia touches. 

Only together can we understand all aspects of dementia, and deliver the transformational impact we can uniquely achieve, as the only dementia charity giving support to those who need it, campaigning to improve experiences, and funding groundbreaking research. 

It will take a society to beat dementia. Alzheimer’s Society