Dementia is killing people at a faster-than-expected rate, with new figures revealing 2,500 excess deaths from the condition in England last year.
More than 68,000 people died from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in 2025, according to official statistics released yesterday – accounting for nearly one in seven of all registered deaths.
It marks a decade since dementia overtook heart disease as the UK’s biggest killer – a grim title it has held ever since, with the exception of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
In 2024, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease were responsible for just over 12 per cent of all deaths in England and Wales.
But new data suggests the toll rose sharply in 2025, with the condition now thought to account for around 14 per cent of all registered deaths in England alone.
An NHS England spokesperson said: ‘Behind every statistic is a family – and we are determined to improve dementia care.
‘These figures largely reflect wider trends, with the NHS diagnosing thousands more people with dementia last year compared with the year before, thanks to improved recognition of the disease, as well as an ageing population.’
Currently, around 900,000 people in the UK are living with dementia. That number is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040, driven largely by Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, more than a third of people with the condition do not yet have a diagnosis.
But the NHS insists that diagnosis is a crucial first step in the fight against the disease.
‘Getting a diagnosis of dementia is the first step in supporting people, with a wide range of NHS services available to help,’ the spokesperson said.
‘If you have noticed that someone has symptoms, please encourage them to visit their GP for an assessment. The sooner someone is seen, the quicker the NHS can help.’
The figures come as fresh analysis shows dementia patients continue to face a postcode lottery of care, with the NHS failing to hit diagnosis targets in more than half of local authorities across England.
Campaigners argue that people with dementia face a ‘cruel injustice’ – often paying higher care bills, while still having no drugs available on the NHS to cure, prevent or meaningfully slow the disease.
In 2024, NHS patients were denied access to a much-anticipated Alzheimer’s drug, lecanemab, after officials ruled it was not cost-effective.
The drug is the first treatment shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, which gradually damages memory, thinking skills and other mental abilities.
Despite the rising death toll and lack of new treatments, dementia was removed from official NHS planning guidance last year – prompting concerns it is no longer being treated as a priority.
In response to mounting criticism, the Government has pledged to deliver the first-ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia, designed to set national standards and improve care quality.
However, analysis shows the NHS is still failing to meet the Government’s ambition of diagnosing 66.7 per cent of dementia cases in most areas. The national average currently stands at 66.5 per cent.
London performs worst of all, with only around one in three cases diagnosed – less than any other region in the country.
Addressing the gap in diagnosis, Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said:
‘Getting a timely diagnosis can be life-changing – it means people can access the care and support they need to live well for longer.
‘This Government is making progress, with diagnosis rates rising, but there is much more to do.’
Dr Jeremy Isaacs, NHS national clinical director for dementia, added:
‘The number of people diagnosed with dementia is at a record high and just 0.2 per cent away from our national ambition.
‘The NHS urges anyone concerned about someone they know developing dementia to encourage them to see their GP for an initial assessment.’
The warning comes as world-leading experts this week set out 56 evidence-based recommendations aimed at cutting dementia risk, including better control of high blood pressure and stronger public-health messaging.
