Dementia diagnoses to hit half a million by end of the year

Yet health service fails to meet targets to detect two thirds of victims

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Half a million people in England will be diagnosed with dementia by the end of this year, NHS forecasts show.
The record number comes amid pressure on the health service to prepare for a pipeline of 30 drugs to treat Alzheimer’s that could be available by 2030.
Latest NHS data show 497,233 patients had a recorded diagnosis of dementia by the end of last month, with the figure set to reach half a million within weeks.
However, despite recent improvements, the health service is failing to meet targets to diagnose at least two thirds of patients aged 65 and over who have dementia.
The “dementia challenge” was set by David Cameron, the former prince minister, but has not been met since February 2020. Latest figures indicate 65.7 per cent of cases have a diagnosis.
This leaves about 252,000 people who have dementia without a diagnosis, depriving them of support and treatment.
Dr Jeremy Isaacs, national clinical director for dementia, NHS England, said: “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.
“Getting a diagnosis of dementia is the first step in supporting people, with a wide range of NHS services able to help.
“NHS staff have worked hard to recover services with the number of people with a diagnosis rising significantly over the past year, and now at a record level, but there is more work to be done.”
He said the NHS was now “working flat out to prepare for the arrival of a pipeline of potential new treatments for Alzheimer’s” which would mean extra tests and services being set up.
David Thomas, head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “It’s testament to the hard work of the NHS and clinicians that the numbers receiving diagnosis have improved over the past decade.”
However, he said it was “not sustainable” for the health service to manage the pressures on it from an ageing society without extra resources, including investment to develop blood tests for the disease.
Already, too many were missing out on even the most basic help, he said.
“Currently a third of people with dementia are falling through the cracks and won’t receive a formal diagnosis.  We wouldn’t accept this for any other condition, so we shouldn’t for dementia,” he said.
The figures show a sharp rise in diagnoses in recent years, with the latest figure of 497,233 diagnoses in England for October this year comparing with 427,176 in October 2022, a rise of 16 per cent.
In recent months, the first two drugs to slow progression of Alzheimer’s have been licensed for use in Britain.
However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has refused to fund either, claiming they do not constitute good value for money.
Charities and pharmaceutical companies have criticised Nice, the rationing body for the NHS, for disregarding the costs borne by families and society in making their assessments.
Mr Thomas said early and accurate dementia diagnosis must be made a priority for the health service, so that people could access support, take part in research and have a chance of accessing new “life-changing treatments” when they are authorised.
With dozens of new dementia medicines in the pipeline, it was a matter of “when not if” treatments would be made available, he said.
He added: “NHS England have stated that nearly 30 new dementia medicines could be available by 2030. But, without a formal diagnosis, people with dementia will never be able to benefit from these breakthroughs.
“The scientific pipeline means it’s a matter of when, not if, treatments will be available in the UK and this should create greater urgency around efforts to improve diagnosis.”
The charity said blood tests to identify Alzheimer’s which are in development are showing huge promise in being able to spot the disease earlier, and more accurately, making treatment more effective.
Dr Isaacs said: “Common early symptoms of dementia include forgetting bits of information, saying the same thing repeatedly, struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word and being confused about time and place. Usually, these problems will be more obvious to the person’s family and friends than to the individual themselves.
“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.”
Alzheimer’s Research UK is one of four charities supported by this year’s Telegraph Christmas Charity Appeal. The others are Humanity & Inclusion, Teenage Cancer Trust and Army Benevolent Fund. To make a donation, visit http://telegraph.co.uk/2024appeal or call 0151 317 5247