Background
Dementia is a general term to describe a range of conditions which result in deterioration of a person’s mental abilities, including reasoning, remembering, problem-solving, decision-making and attention. Common symptoms can interfere with a person’s ability to take care of themselves. The specific symptoms can differ based on the type of dementia and may range in severity, progressing through several stages.
In the UK, it is estimated that 982,000 people were living with dementia in 2024. This is projected to rise to over 1 million by 2030 and exceed 1.6 million by 2050. Around one in 11 people over the age of 65 are living with dementia, and there are approximately 70,000 individuals whose condition developed before turning 65, also known as young-onset dementia. Alzheimer's disease, which makes up about 60–70% of cases, is the most prevalent form of dementia. Dementia was the most common cause of death in England and Wales in 2024.
For more information on the state of social care for people with dementia and possible improvement, visit the research report “What needs to improve for social care to better support people with dementia?” published in November 2024.
Improving diagnosis and recording of dementia can enable people with dementia and their families to access essential support, treatments and financial benefits, as well as the opportunity to plan for the future and manage symptoms effectively. In England, a formal dementia diagnosis starts with a GP assessment including cognitive and blood tests, followed by possible specialist referrals and brain scans to confirm the condition.
The number of people with a formal diagnosis of dementia in England increased from 427,176 in December 2022 to 498,122 in March 2026. As of March 2026, individuals over 65 years old made up 97% of all dementia diagnoses, compared with 3% for individuals aged between 0–64 years (or young onset).
Women accounted for the majority (62%) of all formal dementia diagnoses in March 2026, while young-onset dementia is more common in men. Although the exact reasons are unclear, the higher prevalence of dementia diagnoses in women may be influenced by factors such as longer life expectancy, biological differences or even gender roles.
It’s important to note that many individuals with dementia do not receive a formal diagnosis, meaning that the actual number of people living with the condition is likely higher than reported. The proportion of people estimated to have dementia who have a recorded diagnosis has increased gradually since 2022, to around 66% by March 2026 (data not shown).
After a dementia diagnosis, national guidance states that individuals should have a care plan outlining the care and support they may need, as well as how it will be provided, as soon as possible. This plan is developed with the help of a local service, such as a memory assessment service, the local council or a GP, depending on the area. GP practices offer an annual review as part of the care support given to a person diagnosed with dementia.
The ratio of dementia care plans or care plan reviews to the number of people with a formal dementia diagnosis increased from 73 in 100 in the 2022/23 financial year to 76 in 100 in the 2025/26 financial year.
As part of the GP annual review for a person with a dementia diagnosis, the GP will assess their patient’s prescribed medication or need for prescribed medication. While there’s currently no cure for dementia, medication can help manage symptoms. The first national dementia strategy, “Living Well with Dementia”published in 2009, followed a report that found an overuse of anti-psychotic medication for people with dementia. This underscores the importance of ensuring appropriate prescribing practices and of regular medication reviews.
The number of individuals who received both a medication review and a dementia care plan review increased from 266,239 in the 2022/23 financial year to 301,136 in the 2025/26 financial year. Despite the increase in the number of people receiving reviews, the ratio of medication reviews to the number of people with a formal dementia diagnosis remained at 59 per 100 people in 2025/26. This suggests that while more individuals are receiving reviews, the growing number of dementia diagnoses may be outpacing the capacity of GP services to manage timely medication assessments.
The proportion of deaths with a mention of dementia that occurred in hospital reflects challenges in end-of-life care for people with dementia, including difficulties in navigating key decisions and a lack of suitable community-based support. Many people experience unplanned hospital admissions, particularly toward the end of life, and often face delays in discharge, leading to prolonged hospital stays even when medically fit to leave. This can be particularly distressing for people living with dementia as it can create confusion and delirium.
The proportion of dementia-related deaths occurring in hospitals has decreased over time, from 30.9% in 2016 to 26.3% in 2023. Despite the peak in total dementia-related deaths in 2020, the proportion of these deaths in hospitals was at its lowest, likely due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. From 2021 onwards, the number of dementia-related deaths in hospitals continued to decrease, with 2023 recording the lowest figure (data not shown). However, people who die from dementia have lower use of hospital services than people who die from other causes, and there have been notable falls in emergency hospital admissions from care homes.
About this data
Primary Care Dementia Data
To support the Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge 2020, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) directed NHS England to collect and report dementia diagnosis data. Prior to October 2022, this information was gathered through the dementia data core contract service and published under the Recorded Dementia Diagnoses Data series. However, these earlier datasets cannot be directly compared with the current publications due to differences in coding practices, patient registration, and variations in coverage and definitions. NHS England now collects and publishes dementia-related data for each GP practice in England.
GP practices report the number of patients, up to the end of the reporting period, who have undergone a dementia assessment, as well as those who have accepted or declined an initial memory assessment, received a care plan, had a care plan review, or undergone a medication review. The percentage of GP practices participating in the Core GP Contract service, which includes dementia data collection, increased from 85.6% in April 2022 to over 98% by April 2024.
This data for the dementia care plan and care plan reviews and medication reviews are cumulative and are not suitable for comparisons over time. People living with dementia can request to have a care plan review or medication review at any point, therefore the ratios do not necessarily reflect the exact number of individuals with dementia who have had a review.
The ratio of dementia care plans or care plan reviews to people diagnosed with dementia was calculated by dividing the number of dementia care plans or care plan reviews within the last 12 months by the number of people formally diagnosed with dementia as of March that financial year.
The ratio of medication reviews and dementia care plans or care plan reviews to people diagnosed with dementia was calculated by dividing the number of medication reviews in the reporting year and a dementia care plan or care plan review within the last 12 months by the number of people formally diagnosed with dementia as of March that financial year.
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), based on Office for National Statistics data
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) relies on data specifically produced for them by the Office for National Statistics (ONS): Public Health England Annual Mortality Extract dataset.
The proportion of registered deaths for individuals aged 65 or older involving dementia or Alzheimer's disease that occurred in hospitals was calculated by comparing the number of such deaths in hospital settings to the total registered deaths mentioning these conditions within a given area. Deaths were classified based on International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD) codes F00 to F03, G30, G318 and G310, including cases where dementia or Alzheimer’s was recorded as either the underlying cause or a contributing factor.
It is important to note that deaths included in this indicator are based on mentions of dementia or Alzheimer's disease on death certificates. However, this does not necessarily indicate that a formal diagnosis was recorded in primary care records before death.