The Brain Charity

When we talk about the UK’s biggest health challenges, we might think of cancer, heart disease or stroke. But there is another condition affecting almost one million people, placing enormous pressure on families and health and social care services, and is recorded as the country’s leading cause of death. In 2024, dementia and Alzheimer’s were recorded as the leading cause of death in the UK, with 76,894 deaths attributed to the conditions. Together, they accounted for 11.8% of all deaths.

Yet despite its scale, dementia is still surrounded by misunderstanding, stigma and fear.

So why are the numbers rising? Why are so many people still living without a diagnosis? And who is really paying the cost of dementia?

How many people are living with dementia in the UK?

There are currently an estimated 982,000 people living with dementia in the UK.

That figure is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.

This increase is partly linked to a positive development we should recognise: people are living longer.

The UK’s population is growing and ageing, and age is the strongest known risk factor for dementia. As more people live into older age, more people are reaching the age groups in which dementia becomes more common.

This doesn’t mean that dementia is an inevitable part of getting older. It isn’t.

But it does mean that as our population ages, dementia is becoming an increasingly important health and social care issue.

And the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

More than one in three people don’t have a diagnosis

Of the estimated 982,000 people living with dementia in the UK, more than a third are thought not to have received a diagnosis.

That means hundreds of thousands of people could be experiencing changes to their memory, thinking or everyday abilities without knowing why.

There are many reasons why someone might not seek a diagnosis.

They might assume changes are simply part of getting older, or they may be worried about what a diagnosis could mean for their independence. Some may feel frightened, embarrassed or uncertain about what happens next.

Sometimes, family and friends may also explain away changes because they don’t want to believe that something could be wrong.

But getting a diagnosis can matter.

Why an early dementia diagnosis matters

2026’s World Alzheimer‘s Month campaign focuses on exactly this issue, with the theme “The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters.”

A diagnosis can help someone understand what is happening and access appropriate treatment, care and support. It also gives people an opportunity to make plans, discuss their wishes, and participate in decisions about their future.

For families, having an explanation can also replace uncertainty with understanding.

A diagnosis doesn’t change everything overnight.

But knowing what you’re dealing with can help you work out what to do next.

The £42 billion question

Dementia isn’t only a major health issue. It also has an enormous economic impact.

The estimated cost of dementia to the UK was £42 billion in 2024. By 2040, that figure is projected to reach £90 billion.

But there’s something particularly important hidden within that number.

Unpaid care is the largest driver of the cost of dementia, accounting for around half of the total. The estimated economic value of unpaid dementia care was £21.1 billion in 2024.

So who is providing that care?

• Families.
• Partners.
• Parents.
• Sons and daughters.
• Friends and other unpaid carers.

The hidden cost of caring for someone with dementia

When we talk about the cost of dementia, it’s easy to think about hospital appointments, medication, care homes and social care.

But there is another cost that is much harder to see.

It’s the family member who spends hours every week helping someone manage their day. The partner who takes responsibility for medication, meals and appointments. A daughter who reduces her working hours to provide care, or the person who quietly puts their own health and wellbeing second because someone they love needs them.

Alzheimer’s Society estimates that people affected by dementia bear 63% of the total cost of care needs. A third of unpaid dementia carers report spending more than 100 hours a week providing care.

And as the number of people living with dementia increases, the need for unpaid care is expected to grow too.

Dementia is not just about memory

Despite the scale of the condition, dementia is still often reduced to one symptom: forgetting.

But dementia can affect much more than memory. Depending on the type and stage, it can affect communication, reasoning, perception, behaviour, independence and the ability to carry out everyday activities.

It can change relationships and place enormous pressure on families.

That is why understanding dementia matters.

And why talking about it matters too.

Breaking the silence around dementia

Dementia can be frightening. A diagnosis can bring uncertainty, grief and difficult questions about the future.

But silence doesn’t make those challenges disappear.

Talking openly about dementia can help challenge the idea that it is simply a normal part of ageing. It can encourage people to seek help when they notice changes, make it easier for families to have difficult conversations and help carers recognise that they don’t have to cope alone.

Most importantly, it reminds us that behind every statistic is a person.

Some are receiving a diagnosis.

Others are worried about their memory.

Many are caring for a partner, parent or friend.

More are trying to understand what happens next.

This World Alzheimer’s Month, let’s talk about dementia.

The numbers are significant.

• 982,000 people are living with dementia.
• 1.4 million projected by 2040.
• 76,894 deaths in 2024.
• More than a third of people living with dementia are without a diagnosis.
• £42 billion in annual costs.

And £21.1 billion of unpaid care is provided by families and loved ones.

But numbers are only useful if they help us understand the people behind them.

This World Alzheimer’s Month, let’s talk about dementia earlier, more openly and without stigma.

Because the earlier you know, the more you can do.

How The Brain Charity can help

At The Brain Charity, we understand that neurological conditions can affect every part of someone’s life — as well as the lives of the people around them.

We provide support, advice, and services for people affected by neurological conditions, their families, and carers.

If you or someone you know has been affected by dementia or another neurological condition, we’re here to help.

Contact us at hello@thebraincharity.org.uk to find out more.