Dementia costs dramatically underestimated

The research, from a London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) report, commissioned by the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, shows that the cost to provide longterm care to older people with dementia will increase to £16.7 billion by 2031, as opposed to £10.9 billion as estimated in 2003.

The scientists believe the number of people with dementia and other causes of cognitive impairment (CI) will rise by 83% by the year 2031 (from 468,000 to 855,000).

Professor Martin Knapp, lead researcher at the London School of Economics, said: “The research shows that if treatments developed were to reduce the percentage of older people with severe cognitive impairment by only 1% per year, this would nearly offset the increasing long-term care costs.”

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive for the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said: “Unless we develop more effective treatments for dementia, there will be a hefty rise in demand for care services with major consequences for all of us. Only £11 is spent on UK research into Alzheimer’s for every person affected by the disease, compared to £289 for cancer patients.”