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Dementia Remains the UK’s Biggest Killer in 2024: Urgent Action Needed

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Biggest killer in the UK

Inspired by Kate Pickes’ article in the Daily Mail. Read the original here.

Dementia has continued to devastate families across the UK, claiming more than 75,000 lives in 2023 alone. As the leading cause of death in the UK for over a decade, experts and charities are urging the government to address this escalating crisis with immediate and effective action.

Startling Statistics
  • Rising Mortality Rates: Dementia caused 75,393 deaths in 2023, up from 74,261 in 2022 and 69,178 in 2021. This represents 1 in every 10 deaths in the UK.
Biggest killer in the UK
  • Gender Inequity: Women remain disproportionately affected, with over 48,000 deaths compared to 27,000 men.
  • Regional Disparities: Northern Ireland has the highest dementia death rate at 11.7%, followed by England (11.6%), Wales (10.6%), and Scotland (10.2%).
Biggest killer in the UK
  • Rising Mortality Rates: Dementia caused 75,393 deaths in 2023, up from 74,261 in 2022 and 69,178 in 2021. This represents 1 in every 10 deaths in the UK.
  • Gender Inequity: Women remain disproportionately affected, with over 48,000 deaths compared to 27,000 men.
  • Regional Disparities: Northern Ireland has the highest dementia death rate at 11.7%, followed by England (11.6%), Wales (10.6%), and Scotland (10.2%).
Calls for Change

Alzheimer’s Research UK has warned that dementia’s toll on society will worsen unless urgent steps are taken. Hilary Evans-Newton, the charity’s chief executive, emphasized the critical role of the government’s forthcoming 10-Year Health Plan in addressing the crisis.

The NHS is already under strain, with dementia accounting for a quarter of hospital beds for patients over 65. The financial cost of dementia care has doubled in the last decade, largely due to preventable emergency admissions.

“The magnitude of damage caused by dementia on people and wider society can’t be ignored by the government,” said Ms. Evans-Newton.

Promising Treatments Out of Reach

While new treatments like Lecanemab and Donanemab represent significant breakthroughs, their high cost has rendered them inaccessible to NHS patients. Experts are calling for investment to ensure these innovations can be widely adopted.

Prevention and Diagnosis

Only 64% of people in England with dementia have a formal diagnosis, falling short of the government’s 67% target. With nearly half of dementia cases preventable through lifestyle changes, greater emphasis on public health and education is crucial to reducing future prevalence.

A Future of Growing Challenges

With an estimated 944,000 people currently living with dementia in the UK, this number is expected to reach 1.4 million by 2040, creating significant pressure on families, public services, and the economy.

Biggest killer in the UK

Stephen Kinnock, the Care Minister, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to dementia care, stating:

“We will ensure that new clinically and cost-effective treatments are rolled out in a safe and timely way and provide compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life.”