Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe cognitive and behavioural symptoms that worsen over time due to a range of brain conditions.^1,2

How dementia progresses and how it manifests itself varies from person to person. With no cures currently available for most forms of dementia, it is a life-limiting condition, so anyone with a diagnosis will die with or from dementia. In the meantime, people with dementia are increasingly likely to need others to help with daily activities.^1,3,4,5

As dementia progresses, the brain’s ability to control vital body functions declines, causing the body’s systems to malfunction and shut down. This will lead to death unless other comorbidities such as cancer or heart disease take their toll first. ^4,6

For more than a decade, dementia has been recorded as the leading cause of death in the UK, accounting for nearly 76,900 deaths in 2024 (around 11.8% of all deaths). Women are more likely to die from dementia (48,915 women compared to 27,979 men in 2024).^6,7

Early recognition and diagnosis therefore mean patients and their carers can access formal support sooner to improve quality of life and access interventions with the potential to slow disease progress.³