Michelle Dyson CB
Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Society
Dementia affects around 1 million people in the UK, set to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. As the UK’s biggest killer, it is, unsurprisingly, the health condition people now fear most.1
Our understanding of dementia is growing rapidly. There is now good evidence that around 45% of dementia cases could be prevented through straightforward lifestyle changes.2 Simple blood tests can detect Alzheimer’s disease and drugs can slow its progression. Yet, the reality is, many are left abandoned without the support they need to live with a condition that devastates lives.
Dementia diagnosis challenges
A third of people living with dementia do not have a formal diagnosis.3 Too often, symptoms are dismissed as a normal part of ageing, or stigma or fear prevents people from seeking help. Those who do reach out find they have to wait months, or even years, for an answer. A diagnosis, when it eventually arrives, can come with little more than a leaflet and warm wishes.
A dementia diagnosis should bring answers and understanding,
unlocking access to support, treatment and care
A dementia diagnosis should bring answers and understanding, unlocking access to support, treatment and care. It should be a lifeline, allowing people to make important decisions, access financial support and plan for the future.
Better standards for dementia care
Dementia must be made a priority and put on a par with other major health conditions by introducing a new nationally recognised standard that someone with dementia should receive an accurate diagnosis, a personalised care plan and, crucially, start appropriate treatment within 18 weeks of a GP referral. This would be the first step in making sure people get the help and support they need.
Making dementia a priority in this way would also help ready the NHS for the scientific progress coming down the track; blood tests and new treatment options can then reach the people who need them, at a time when they can make a difference. It would help ensure people can continue to live independently at home, doing the things they love, for as long as possible. This should be the very least that people living with dementia should come to expect.
To find out how Alzheimer’s Society is supporting people affected by dementia throughout World Alzheimer’s Month and beyond, visit alzheimers.org.uk
[1] Alzheimer’s Society, 2024. tinyurl.com/ycx2pk9h
[2] Alzheimer’s Society, 2018. tinyurl.com/yvkun2z7
[3] NHS England, 2026. Primary Care Dementia Data. tinyurl.com/tzbbdt4r
