DEMENTIA TIMEBOMB
Up to 1.2m Brits to have disease by 2040 Cost to NHS will soar to a crippling £36billion Illness set to become biggest killer in the UK
UP to 1.2 million people could be living with dementia by 2040, researchers have predicted.
And with the bill for their care to hit £36billion, experts warned of a social care system “already on its knees”.
Dr James Pickett, Alzheimer’s Society research chief, added: “Dementia is set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer.”
THE number of people battling dementia is set to soar, with experts issuing fresh warnings of a looming crisis.
Studies suggest there could be as many as 1.2 million patients living with the disease by 2040 – almost a 60% rise on current figures.
And the Alzheimer’s Society has predicted 225,000 people in the UK will develop it in the coming year.
With longer life expectancy pushing up figures, and the cost of dementia care forecast at £36billion by 2040, campaigners demanded that the Government fills the black hole in social care funding.
Alzheimer’s Society research chief Dr James Pickett said: “These latest estimates are yet another wake-up call. With an ageing population and no way to cure, prevent or slow the condition, dementia is set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer.
“The social care system, already on its knees from decades of underfunding, needs urgent attention if it is to cope with the inevitable massive increase in demand.”
Experts from University College London and University of Liverpool estimated around 767,000 people had dementia in England and Wales last year. They predicted this will rise to 1,205,000 in 2040, a 57% leap.
Population forecasts of 66.6 million for 2039 suggest one in every 50 people will have dementia. It comes days after Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced a review into bed-blocking, with a probe of 12 local authority areas failing to provide enough home care spaces and community care services.
Cut-hit local authorities are struggling to provide care to free up hospital beds. NHS Providers insisted a £350million investment was needed immediately to cope with pressures in the coming winter.
The dementia study, in the British Medical Journal, used data from a study of 18,000 men and women, tracking the health of over-50s.
Dr Pickett said: “The proportion of people developing dementia at any given age has decreased slightly.” But the research showed the overall number of patients is to increase, largely due to longer life expectancy.
Alzheimer’s Society UK-wide data predicted two million cases by 2051. The current care cost is £23billion.
Monty Python star Terry Jones, 75, can barely speak due to a rare dementia, diagnosed in 2015. Co-star Michael Palin said: “He can’t talk at any great length but laughs at memories when I bring them up.”