Rise in dementia cases prompts call for action over diagnosis and care

Tens of thousands of people in the North East are living with a dementia diagnosis, new figures show.

- by Gazette Reporter

The four per cent increase has sparked a call by support charities for "bold, ambitious action" to ensure equal access to diagnosis and care for those affected by the disease.

Figures from NHS England show 30,091 people in the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board area had received a dementia diagnosis as of the end of July-up 4% from 29,027 a year earlier.

Of those, about 13,485 (45%) had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

In South Tyneside, some 2,000 people are estimated to have dementia - but only around 1,400 are said to have had a formal diagnosis.

The 506,549 patients in England, corresponds to about 0.8% of the population, and marks a 3% increase from 490,163 at the same point in 2024.

The figures come during Dementia Action Week.