The number of people with dementia is projected to increase rapidly over the next several decades mainly due to increases in life expectancy and population demographics.

Page last reviewed: 05/07/2018

Source:Prince, M et al (2014) Dementia UK: Update Second Edition report produced by King’s College London and the London School of Economics for the Alzheimer’s Society

Source: Prince, M et al (2014) Dementia UK: Update Second Edition report produced by King’s College London and the London School of Economics for the Alzheimer’s Society

Projections by gender

This graph shows the projections of dementia prevalence in the UK.

Source: Prince, M et al (2014) Dementia UK: Update Second Edition report produced by King’s College London and the London School of Economics for the Alzheimer’s Society

Projections by nation

The large projected increase in the number of people with dementia, shown below, makes finding a treatment to slow or stop dementia as soon as possible essential. There are no treatments yet that can slow the progression or delay the onset of the diseases which cause dementia. There have been no new drug treatments approved for dementia in over ten years.

Source: Prince, M et al (2014) Dementia UK: Update Second Edition report produced by King’s College London and the London School of Economics for the Alzheimer’s Society. ONS; National population Projections, 2012-based projections.