Rise in deaths due to dementia - Alzheimer's Society comment
New mortality statistics for England and Wales show that dementia and Alzheimer’s disease were the leading cause of death in 2017, for the third consecutive year, accounting for more than one in eight of all deaths (12.7%).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported today that a total of 67,641 deaths were attributed to dementia and Alzheimer's last year - up from 62,948 the year before. With people living longer and surviving other illnesses, the number developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease is increasing, the ONS said.
Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Dementia is the biggest health and care crisis of our time, and these new statistics showing that it causes more than one in eight deaths should be a stark wake-up call for urgent action. A million people in the UK will have dementia by 2021 and we are simply not ready for that challenge.
“With the NHS and social care already struggling to meet rising demand, and families affected by dementia paying the price emotionally and financially, I urge the Government to end this injustice and use the Budget to properly fund the system so that everyone can get the care they need.”
