New analysis from Alzheimer’s Research UK shows dementia continues to be the UK’s leading cause of death, accounting for more than one in 10 deaths last year. It ranked higher than conditions including ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. The data showed the death toll from dementia was rising, reaching 76,894 in 2024, partly due to the country’s ageing population.
Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “These figures are heartbreaking. Dementia is still the biggest killer in the UK, tearing families apart and placing an enormous strain on our society, our economy and our NHS. But dementia isn’t inevitable. It’s caused by diseases — and science is finally giving us the tools to fight back.
“We now have more potential treatments, and simpler, earlier tests, than at any point in history. These breakthroughs can change lives — but only if the Government steps up.
“We need proper support for research, for clinical trials, and a bold plan to prepare the NHS to deliver new tests and treatments to the people who desperately need them.”
While there is no cure for dementia, a proportion of cases are thought to be preventable with a healthy lifestyle.
Research has identified 14 factors that increase risk, including physical inactivity, smoking, drinking excessive alcohol and having a poor diet.
Hearing loss, vision loss, depression and social isolation have also been found to increase a person’s chances of developing the condition.
Dr Jeremy Isaacs, NHS England’s national clinical director for dementia and older people’s mental health, said: “These figures show that dementia remains one of the biggest public health challenges of our time.
“Around one in three dementia cases in England could be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 different risk factors, including high blood pressure and cholesterol, smoking, and type 2 diabetes.
“The NHS is committed to supporting people to improve their health through interventions like treating high blood pressure, prescribing statins, smoking cessation services, and the diabetes prevention programme.”
Dr Isaacs said the NHS was diagnosing record numbers of people with dementia, and figures are expected to keep rising.
He added: “It is vital that people are supported across health and social care, while new treatments are developed through clinical research — including by Alzheimer’s Research UK — for this devastating disease.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
