The condition accounted for more than one in ten deaths in the UK last year, surpassing illnesses such as ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. While deaths from other major conditions fell between 2023 and 2024, dementia-related deaths continued to rise.
In 2024, 76,894 people in the UK died from dementia, compared with 75,393 in 2023 and 74,261 in 2022. The increase is partly attributed to an ageing population, as age is the greatest risk factor for dementia. Unlike other major conditions, there are currently no NHS treatments that can slow, stop, or prevent the condition. Two new treatments for early Alzheimer’s disease were licensed in the UK last year, but were not approved for use on the NHS.
Dementia remains the leading cause of death for women, with 48,915 women affected in 2024, compared with 27,979 men. Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for men, claiming more than 41,000 lives.
Across the four nations, England had the highest dementia death rate in 2024 at 12%, followed by Northern Ireland (11.1%), Wales (11%), and Scotland (10.6%).
Hilary Evans-Newton, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“These figures are heartbreaking. Dementia is still the biggest killer in the UK, placing enormous strain on families, society, the economy, and the NHS.
“But dementia is caused by disease, not inevitability. Science is now giving us the tools to fight back, with more potential treatments and earlier tests than ever before. These breakthroughs can change lives, but only if the Government invests in research, clinical trials, and a bold plan to prepare the NHS to deliver new tests and treatments to those who need them.”
Dr Jeremy Isaacs, National Clinical Director for Dementia and Older People’s Mental Health for NHS England, added:
“These figures show dementia remains one of the biggest public health challenges of our time. Around one in three dementia cases in England could be prevented or delayed by addressing risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and type 2 diabetes.
“The NHS is supporting people through interventions like treating high blood pressure, prescribing statins, smoking cessation services, and the diabetes prevention programme. Diagnosis rates are rising due to the ageing population, making it vital that people receive support across health and social care while new treatments are developed through clinical research, including work by Alzheimer’s Research UK.”
The latest data coincides with growing global momentum in dementia research. More than 130 drugs are currently being tested for Alzheimer’s disease, with progress accelerating. The recent Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease conference in the USA showcased updates on cutting-edge research.
Claire Taylor, whose husband Bruce died in 2024 from Primary Progressive Aphasia, a rare form of dementia, said:
“Bruce was a remarkable person, and the effect dementia had on him was devastating. Watching someone so intelligent and respected lose their understanding of language and undergo behavioural changes was incredibly challenging for the family.
“Dementia is so difficult because you lose your loved one gradually. The fact that it remains the leading cause of death in the UK highlights the urgent need to support vital scientific research to find a cure and ultimately prevent the suffering it causes.”
