Dementia is still UK’s biggest killer – where do we go from here?

New analysis from Alzheimer’s Research UK has confirmed dementia continues to be the UK’s biggest killer. In 2024, more than 76,000 people around the UK died from this devastating condition. 

The findings – worked out using latest data from the Office for National Statistics, the National Records of Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency –  highlight a stark reality. 

These aren’t just health statistics. This is a healthcare crisis. Behind every number is both a person who lived and died with dementia, and their families and loved ones who have experienced the loss. 

Below, we take a look at what is behind those numbers and what we are calling for to reduce those numbers. 

What do the latest numbers show?

Last year, more than 1-in-10 (11.8%) deaths in the UK were due to dementia. It claimed 76,894 lives, more than other big health conditions like heart disease and stroke, making it the UK’s biggest killer once again.

And whereas deaths from those other conditions all came down from 2023 to 2024, the death toll from dementia is continuing to rise – up from 75,393 deaths in 2023 and 74,261 in 2022.

The dementia death toll continues to rise in part because the UK has an ageing population, and age is the biggest risk factor for dementia. Unlike other major conditions, there are no treatments available on the NHS that can slow down, 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. 

Women are more affected by dementia than men, and it has been the leading cause of death for UK women since 2011. 2024 was no different, with 48,915 women across the UK losing their lives to the condition, compared to 27,979 men. Meanwhile, heart disease continued to be the biggest killer for men, claiming over 41,000 lives. 

Our analysis also shows that across the four nations, England had the highest dementia death rate last year at 12%, followed by Northern Ireland (11.1%), Wales (11%) and Scotland (10.6%). 

This is a change on 2023, when Northern Ireland had the highest rate (11.7%), followed by England and Wales (11.5% respectively) and Scotland (10.2%). Even as the order changes, the message remains clear: we need consistent, nationwide action to tackle the UK’s most relentless health challenge.  

How can dementia be a “killer”? 

Our Dementia Attitudes Monitor showed that dementia is the most feared health condition but only 6-in-10 people know that it’s a killer.  

Dementia isn’t an inevitable part of aging. It’s caused by diseases that affect areas of the brain controlling vital bodily functions and, as it progresses, it causes the body’s systems to go wrong and shut down, eventually leading to death. 

The main ways dementia causes death are:  

• Pneumonia: difficulty in swallowing means food or drink can enter the windpipe, irritate the lungs, and trigger infections. 

• Starvation and dehydration: as people with dementia lose their appetite or forget to eat, or even the ability to swallow, poor nutrition can increase their vulnerability to getting infections.  

• Severe urinary tract infections (UTIs): incontinence and poor hygiene can increase the risk of someone with dementia developing a UTI, which can lead to sepsis if left untreated.  

• Untreated conditions: if people with dementia have other conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, they may forget check-ups and medication, which can cause serious complications.  

• Weakened immune system: as we age, our immune system’s ability to fight off illness starts to decrease and can lead to our immune response being less effective, giving bugs more opportunity to cause serious infections. The diseases that cause dementia also make this issue worse.  

• Falls and injuries: dementia can increase the risk of falls that can cause injury and may require surgery, with increased age slowing recovery and increasing mortality risks.  

 

 

The real impact of dementia  

Dementia is estimated to cost the UK economy £42bn a year due to its impact on the NHS, social care services and unpaid care. But families are hit the hardest, covering 63% of the total cost. As the UK population ages, the number of people living with dementia is predicted to increase to over 1.4 million by 2040. Without improvements in dementia prevention, diagnosis and treatment, the steadily increasing death toll could continue to climb. 

When considering big picture statistics like these, we have to remember the people behind the numbers. 

Claire Taylor’s husband Bruce was a leading intensive care doctor who died in 2024 from a rare form of dementia called Primary Progressive Aphasia.

“Bruce was a truly remarkable person and the effect dementia had on him was horrendous,” Claire told us. “It was awful to see someone so well-respected and clever lose his understanding of language, and his changes in behaviour were so challenging for the family to deal with.  

“Dementia is so hard because you lose your loved one over time, before they go. The stark news that it continues to be the leading cause of death in the UK makes it really obvious that we need to do more to support the vital scientific research that will get us to a cure, and one day put an end the devastation and death that it causes.”

What needs to happen next?

These new figures are a stark reminder of the growing dementia crisis. To tackle it, we need the Government to act now, with more efforts to boost scientific research into new treatments, better diagnosis and broader measures to help people avoid developing dementia in the first place. 

Strengthening research 

There are now more dementia treatments being tested than ever – but we need to make sure the UK plays a leading part in research and that the NHS is ready to get these innovations in treatments and diagnostics to patients. This year, the UK Government has announced major new plans to transform the NHS and boost the life sciences sector, but now it needs to act on these plans – backing more trials of tests and treatments, and ensuring the NHS is ready to roll them out.

“We now have more potential treatments, and simpler, earlier tests, than at any point in history,” says Alzheimer’s Research UK Chief Executive Hilary Evans-Newton. 

“These breakthroughs can change lives – but only if the Government steps up. We need proper support for research, for clinical trials, and a bold plan to prepare the NHS to deliver new tests and treatments to the people who desperately need them.”

Supporting NHS services and diagnosis

An early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for getting people with dementia the right support, and will be just as crucial to getting them access to new treatments. But as our recent Dementia Unseen campaign revealed, right now 1-in-3 people with dementia miss out on a diagnosis. We need to see clear national standards for diagnosis, and sustained investment in our NHS dementia services.  

Cutting our dementia risk

Alzheimer’s Research UK is committed to helping everyone improve their brain health and help to reduce their risk of dementia. We do this through public information and activity like our Think Brain Health campaign, which provide people with guidance on how people can reduce their risks.  

When it comes to factors outside our control – like the quality of the air we breathe, or the affordability and accessibility of a healthy diet and lifestyle – we are also working hard to influence the Government to act on issues such as cutting air pollution and tougher regulations on unhealthy food and junk food advertising.

There is hope 

Deaths from dementia are heartbreaking, and it is a difficult topic to deal with, especially as we don’t have a cure for dementia right now. But we’ve already seen amazing progress in tackling other diseases we once thought could not be cured. With continued research and support, we’re determined to make that the reality for dementia too.

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