Experts from Alzheimer Europe (AE) have predicted a significant increase in the number of people living with dementia across Europe, estimating that by 2050, two million people in the UK alone will be affected. This represents an almost two-thirds surge over the next 25 years, primarily driven by cases of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. The forecast highlights an escalating pressure on health services and underscores the critical need for advancements in treatment and cures.

Last year, an estimated 1,204,368 individuals in the UK were living with this memory-robbing condition. AE's new report projects this figure to rise by nearly 63 percent to 1,959,592 by 2050. This constitutes a substantial increase compared to previous estimates, such as the Alzheimer's Society's forecast of 1.4 million people in Britain living with dementia by 2040. Utilizing data from 18 studies, AE's report suggests that one in every 26 Britons aged over 30 will be affected, translating to an estimated 90 percent increase in people living with some form of dementia by 2050.

Jean Georges, executive director at Alzheimer Europe, emphasized the profound scale of the challenge dementia poses across Europe. He expressed hope that these updated figures would compel decision-makers to prioritize dementia across health, research, disability policy, and support for informal caregivers. Georges called for improved care services, increased investments in health infrastructure for diagnosis and treatments, and robust support systems for families and caregivers of people with dementia. He stressed the importance of considering changing demographics and the prevalence of conditions like dementia in future policy-making.

In the UK, dementia patients continue to contend with a fragmented care system marked by long waiting times for diagnosis, limited access to specialist support, and chronic underfunding of social care. Many families shoulder the bulk of caregiving responsibilities with minimal financial or emotional support, while overstretched NHS and local authority services struggle to meet rising demand. Experts warn that without urgent reforms, including earlier diagnosis pathways, sustained investment in dementia research, and stronger community-based care—the projected rise in cases could deepen existing inequalities and place an unsustainable burden on patients, caregivers, and the wider health system.