Diagnosis of dementia

Getting a dementia diagnosis is key to unlocking access to personalised care and support, as well as accessing treatments that can help to control symptoms. A diagnosis helps enable people to plan ahead and identify any potential ways to improve their brain health.

An early and accurate diagnosis may offer greater opportunities to take part in research, such as clinical trials, increasing our chances of finding life-changing treatments. It will also be crucial to accessing these treatments when they arrive.

The most up-to-date diagnosis figures are shown below. Around 60% of those aged 65 or over thought to be living with dementia in England have a diagnosis. See our dementia maps and page on prevalence and incidence for more information on this. You can also read about our policy work on diagnosis.