Record-breaking dementia numbers push NHS towards critical milestone
Englandʼs healthcare system approaches half-a-million dementia diagnoses while preparing for dozens of new treatments. NHS data shows significant year-over-year growth but many cases still go un-noticed
NHS data shows dementia diagnoses in England hit almost 500k by oct-2024‚ marking a big-time jump from last years numbers (around 16% more than oct-2022)
Dr Jeremy Isaacs from NHS England points to a key achievement: “Thanks to patients and families coming forward and the hard work of NHS staff we expect to soon have a record half a million people diagnosed with dementia“
The health-care system faces some real issues though — its not meeting its goals to spot dementia in older folks‚ leaving about 252k people without proper diagnosis. The target (finding 2/3 of cases) hasnt been hit since early-2020; right now its at 65.7%
Currently a third of people with dementia are falling through the cracks and wonʼt receive a formal diagnosis. We wouldnʼt accept this for any other condition‚ so we shouldnʼt for dementia
Some good-news is coming: NHS is getting ready for lots of new meds — about 30 different Alzheimerʼs treatments might show up by 2030. Two treatments already got okʼd for Britain but didnt get funding cause of money-related stuff
Common signs to watch for include:
- Forgetting basic info
- Saying things over-and-over
- Problems with talking and finding words
- Getting mixed up about time and place
Blood tests that could find Alzheimerʼs early are being worked on‚ which might help catch cases faster (and make treatments work better)
