New UK dementia cases ‘fell 20 percent over last two decades’

A new study has revealed a drop in the number of dementia cases in the UK over the past two decades.

Carried out by the University of Cambridge and published in the Nature Communications journal, the research saw 7,500 people in three regions of the UK interviewed between 1991 and 1994, and compared to a new sample of over 7,500 people from the same regions 20 years later.

It was shown that dementia incidence across the two decades dropped by 20 percent, a fall driven by a reduction in incidence among men at all ages. Extrapolated nationwide, it suggests there are just under 210,000 new cases being diagnosed each year.

This is compared to an anticipated 250,000 new cases based on previous levels, and indicates that the number of people estimated to develop dementia in any year has remained relatively stable.

However, further research is needed to establish why rates among men have declined faster than those among women, while the greater prevalence of the condition in deprived areas remains a cause for concern.

Professor Carol Brayne, Director of the Cambridge Institute of Public Health, said: "The UK in earlier eras has seen major societal investments into improving population health and this appears to be helping protect older people from dementia. It is vital that policies take potential long-term benefits into account."