Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Currently, it's estimated that 982,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, a figure expected to rise to 1.
4 million by 2040. The global situation is also set to worsen significantly, with the World Health Organisation predicting cases will triple by 2050. The recent diagnosis of Hollywood actor Bruce Willis with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a less well-known form of the disease that affects behaviour and language, has brought increased public attention to the condition.
According to the NHS, dementia primarily affects older individuals, with the risk of developing the disease roughly doubling every five years after the age of 65. However, some people can develop dementia earlier, which presents unique challenges for the individual, their carer, and their family. In England alone, there are approximately 540,000 carers for people with dementia.
It's estimated that one in three people will care for someone with dementia in their lifetime. Half of these carers are employed, and it's believed that around 66,000 people have already reduced their working hours to care for a family member, while 50,000 people have left work entirely. The economic cost associated with dementia is substantial, estimated at £23 billion a year and predicted to triple by 2040.
This exceeds the costs of cancer, heart disease, and stroke, reports Surrey Li.
