National Records of Scotland has today published a new report on dementia deaths in 2023.
The latest figures show there were 6,491 deaths in 2023 - an increase of 3% on the previous year. Dementia continues to be one of the leading causes of death in Scotland. Two-thirds of dementia deaths were women (66%).
Below is a statement from our Chief Executive Henry Simmons.
"The figures published today by the National Records of Scotland show that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias continue to be among the leading causes of death in Scotland. Behind every statistic is a person and a family who will be going through grief and loss, and our thoughts are with them.
"These are stark figures as the total number of deaths in Scotland has increased again year-on-year, while women continue to be disproportionately affected – accounting for two-thirds of all deaths from Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
"The rate of deaths from dementia has more than doubled over the last 20 years and we know that this figure will only continue to increase as the number of people living with dementia in Scotland continues to rise.
"Now more than ever we need investment in new treatments and prevention programmes. Disease modifying treatments such as lecanemab, which was recently licensed for sale in the UK, must now be made available to NHS patients across the UK.
"Alzheimer Scotland urges the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) to authorise lecanemab for NHS use. It is only right that this potentially life-changing treatment is made available to all those who could benefit from it, and not just to those who can afford to pay for it privately.
"These new figures also give a renewed urgency to our calls for effective prevention strategies. The recent Lancet Commission report found that almost half of dementia cases globally could be preventable, but many things need to change for that to be achieved.
"Alzheimer Scotland launched Brain Health Scotland in 2020 to promote lifelong brain health and create a legacy of long-term dementia prevention strategies. By reaching out as early as possible into our schools and wider communities we can actively engage with the public and target people known to be at risk of brain diseases.
"The scale of these figures also highlights that it is essential that we develop a national plan that will ensure a range of long term care options and facilities are available to those in need. Many people will have spent their final months in some form of residential care, with little or no choice about that. A significant number of these individuals will have had to pay for their care during these advance stages because their needs are not recognised properly as health care needs. This is both unfair and unequal and we urge the Scottish Government to act on delivering the recommendations set out in the Alzheimer Scotland Long Term Care Commission’s 2024 report.
"We also recognise the need for greater focus to be placed on health inequalities for women living with dementia and more must be done going forward to highlight and tackle this as part of our Women’s Health Plan.
"Alzheimer Scotland will continue to deliver support to those affected by dementia to ensure that nobody faces dementia alone. Alzheimer Scotland’s 24 hour Freephone Dementia Helpline is available on 0808 808 3000."