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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6389977.stm

 

 

1.7m 'will have dementia by 2051'

Woman being tested for Alzheimer's

Elderly people are more at risk

More than 1.7 million people in the UK will have dementia by 2051, costing

billions of pounds each year, experts have forecast.

 

The grim projections are based on the most up-to-date evaluation of

dementia.

 

Currently 700,000 - or one person in every 88 in the UK - has dementia,

incurring a yearly cost of £17bn.

 

The government welcomed the London School of Economics and Institute of

Psychiatry research, and said dementia care was already a priority.

 

 

This research highlights the desperate need for dementia to be made a

national priority

Professor Martin Knapp, London School of Economics - report author

 

'You are just left alone'

Alzheimer's disease

 

The total number of people with dementia in the UK will increase to 940,110

by 2021, they predict.

 

By 2051 the figure will be 1,735,087 - an increase of 154% from now -, which

will mean dementia will affect the lives of around one in three people

either as a sufferer, or as a carer or relative.

 

This is mainly because of the UK's ageing population. However, conditions

such as high cholesterol and blood pressure, and lack of exercise are also

thought to increase the risk.

 

One in 20 people over 65 and one in five people over 80 has a form of

dementia. Around two thirds of those affected have Alzheimer's disease.

 

There is no cure for dementia, and those with the condition need increasing

care as the disease progresses.

 

 

HAVE YOUR SAY

My 89 year old mother is obviously suffering from Dementia and is getting

worse by the week

Anthony Darby, London

 

Send us your comments

Singer Melly has dementia

 

'Piecemeal'

 

The researchers' investigations reveal caring for one person with late-onset

dementia costs an average of £25,472 per year.

 

Currently, the bulk of this cost is met by people with dementia and their

families.

 

Two thirds of these people live at home - either alone or with friends or

relatives.

 

They said there were "marked variations" in the levels of provision and

spending across the UK, and that care and support is "delivered piecemeal

and in an inefficient fashion."

 

 

With every second ticking by, dementia costs the UK £539

Neil Hunt, Alzheimer's Society

 

Professor Martin Knapp, of the London School of Economics, one of the

report's authors, said: "This research highlights the desperate need for

dementia to be made a national priority.

 

"Current levels of services and support for people with dementia and carers

are clearly inadequate.

 

"Dementia is one of the main causes of disability later in life ahead of

cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke, yet funding for dementia research

is significantly lower than these other conditions.

 

"Even delaying the onset of dementia by five years would halve the number of

related deaths, saving nearly 30,000 lives annually."

 

'Intolerable strain'

 

Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, added: "With every

second ticking by, dementia costs the UK £539. We can't afford to ignore the

true cost of dementia to society as a whole.

 

"We must tackle this huge challenge head on."

 

"We need to invest in dementia services, research, support and training and

use what money is being spent more effectively. Planning now will save lives

and money in the future."

 

He added: "This new research shows that the government is failing to support

people with dementia and their carers.

 

"Dementia will place an intolerable strain on our health and social care

system unless the right services and support are in place."

 

Older people's tsar Professor Ian Philp, who is currently preparing new

guidance for local health and social care bodies on early intervention and

support for people with dementia, said: "This is a significant report that

highlights the key issues around dementia and its economic impact."

 

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "We've already doubled the research

that we're doing on Alzheimer's and just last week, we announced a new

investment, for instance, in emergency respite care for carers of people

with dementia, which is one of the things that carers particularly told us

it was their top priority."

 

Two drugs companies - Pfizer and Eisai - are currently seeking a judical

review with the aim of over-turning a National Institute of Health and

Clinical Excellence (NICE) decision not to recommend the use of three drugs

for patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

 

NICE ruled that donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine should only be used

to treat Alzheimer's once it has progressed to its moderate stages.