Dementia is claiming more lives than Covid-19 as leading cause of death in England

Covid-19 is no longer the leading cause of death in England, as dementia is now claiming more lives, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease caused more deaths in March 2021 than COVID-19 - which had been the leading cause of mortality since October 2020.

A quarter of all those who died of COVID-19 had dementia. The dementia diagnosis rate has dropped by 43,000 since March 2020.

Nearly a million people are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK but there are currently no life-changing treatments for the condition.

Covid scientific response shows what's possible ‘when people come together’

Dementia research charity Alzheimer’s Research has said the death figures show an urgent need for action now in the form of more dementia research funding.

Hilary Evans, chief executive at Alzheimer’s Research UK, has said the government “must honour its manifesto pledge to double its funding for dementia research”.

She said: “It is of little comfort to people with dementia that COVID-19 is no longer the leading cause of death in England.

“People with dementia have been hit disproportionately hard during the pandemic, and these latest figures released by the ONS show that as one crisis appears to ease, another remains as urgent as ever.

"Dementia is one of the biggest health challenges we are facing and the pandemic has only served to highlight the urgency with which we must tackle it."

We can 'move closer to finding a life-changing treatment by 2025'

“The nation’s scientific community has responded magnificently to the COVID-19 pandemic and shows what can be achieved when people come together to deal with such a significant health challenge."

The charity supports dementia research projects worth almost £34 million in universities across the UK.

The charity's chief executive added: “With more funding, we can use the lessons learned during the pandemic as an opportunity to enhance research into dementia and move closer to finding a life-changing treatment by 2025.”

The charity is urging the public to sign its petition calling on Boris Johnson's government to deliver on its election promise to double its funding for dementia research.

To sign the petition click here

To help make research breakthroughs happen, donate to the charity by visiting www.alzheimersresearchuk.org or calling 0300 111 5555.