Dementia cases reach record high of nearly half a million

The number of people with dementia in England has risen to a record high, according to NHS data.

New figures from the NHS show that 487,432 people had been diagnosed with some form of the condition in June, with Alzheimer’s being the most common form.

That is 12 percent more than in January last year, when 431,845 cases of the condition were registered.

According to the NHS, the number of patients represents just 65 per cent of the total number of people estimated to have dementia in England: around 750,000.

About 345,000 patients aged 65 and older diagnosed with dementia also had one or more other serious conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes or high blood pressure.

Statistics also show that dementia can also occur in younger people: approximately 33,950 people with the condition are diagnosed before the age of 65.

There were 193,102 people who, although not diagnosed with dementia, had mild cognitive impairment – ​​which is considered a precursor to dementia.

The NHS said it wants to meet the target of diagnosing a third of the total number of people estimated to have dementia.

England has one of the highest rates of dementia diagnosis in the world, with rates typically between 20 and 50 percent in high-income countries.

NHS England assesses care home residents to determine whether any of them have dementia.

Early diagnosis is vital to ensure more people receive the support and care they need to live with the condition.

The health service is urging people to come forward and get tested if they show common early signs or symptoms.

Dr Jeremy Isaacs, national clinical director for dementia at NHS England, said: ‘Receiving a diagnosis of dementia is the first step in supporting people, and there are a wide range of NHS services that can help with this.

‘NHS staff have been working hard to restore services as the number of people diagnosed has risen significantly over the past year and is now at a record high. But more work needs to be done.

‘Every month, thousands of people are diagnosed and more drug reviews are performed within 12 months.

‘Common early symptoms of dementia include forgetting bits of information, saying the same thing over and over again, having trouble following a conversation or finding the right word, and being confused about time and place. These problems are usually more obvious to the person’s family and friends than to the person themselves.

‘If you notice someone has symptoms, encourage them to go to their GP for an assessment. The sooner someone is seen, the sooner the NHS can help.’

Dr Alex Osborne, policy manager at the Alzheimer’s Society, welcomed the progress but also stressed the importance of early diagnosis.

She said: ‘Early, accurate diagnosis is essential to enable care, support and treatment.

‘We are close to achieving the existing target of a diagnosis rate of 66.7 percent. That is why we would like to see ambitious but achievable targets set in the future to ensure that everyone gets the diagnosis they need.’

But they can also be a sign of dementia, the memory-destroying condition that affects nearly 1 million Britons and seven million Americans.

It is currently thought that around 900,000 Britons suffer from the memory-robbing disorder. But scientists from University College London estimate that this number will rise to 1.7 million within two decades as people live longer. It is a 40 per cent increase on the previous forecast in 2017.

Better diagnosis is also crucial to give patients access to groundbreaking new drugs that could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s in the early stages, experts say.

These drugs, called donanemab and lecanemab, can only be given if patients undergo very specific diagnostic tests. Currently, only a small proportion of patients in the UK receive these drugs.

As people live longer, the number of people with dementia is expected to increase.

The NHS estimates that there will be 1 million people with Alzheimer’s by 2030 and the Alzheimer’s Society estimates that there will be 1.4 million people with the condition by 2040.

WHAT IS DEMENTIA?

Dementia is a collective term for a range of neurological disorders

A GLOBAL CONCERN

Dementia is a collective term for a range of progressive neurological disorders (disorders that affect the brain) that affect memory, thinking and behavior.

There are many forms of dementia, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s disease.

Some people have a combination of different forms of dementia.

Regardless of what type of dementia is diagnosed, everyone experiences dementia in their own unique way.

Dementia is a global problem, but it is most common in wealthier countries, where people often live to a very old age.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?

The Alzheimer’s Society reports that there are currently more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK, with this number expected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting 50 to 75 percent of people diagnosed with it.

There are an estimated 5.5 million Alzheimer’s patients in the United States. A similar percentage increase is expected in the coming years.

As a person gets older, the risk of dementia also increases.

Diagnoses are improving, but it is suspected that many people with dementia still do not have the correct diagnosis.

IS THERE A CURE?

There is currently no cure for dementia.

But new drugs can slow its progression. And the earlier the disease is detected, the more effective treatment can be.

Source: Alzheimer’s Society