June 2014

Estimating the impact that new preventions and treatments for dementia could have on the UK economy.

This analysis, carried out by the Office of Health Economics on behalf of Alzheimer's Research UK, estimates how the number of people with dementia in the UK is likely to grow over the coming decades – and how this increase could in turn lead to an increased number of people called on to provide care to loved ones.

The Trajectory of Dementia in the UK

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But the report also shows how new preventive measures and treatments could change that trajectory, by reducing the number of people living with dementia, improving quality of life and reducing some of the costs associated with dementia. The analysis shows:

  • The number of people over 60 living with dementia is projected to double over the next 25 years, reaching 2 million by 2050.
  • The economic cost to the UK of caring for people with dementia is expected to grow from £23.6bn in 2014 to £59.4bn by 2050.
  • Around 1.7m informal carers could be needed to look after loved ones with dementia by 2050, compared to 706,000 in 2014.
  • From 2020, a treatment to delay the onset of dementia by five years would result in one third (666,000) fewer people with dementia by 2050, and 566,000 fewer informal carers.

This report was published in June 2014.