1.7m 'will have dementia by 2051'

More than 1.7 million people in the UK will have dementia by 2051, costing billions of pounds each year, experts have forecast.
The grim projections are based on the most up-to-date evaluation of dementia.Currently 700,000-or one person in every 88 in the UK-has dementia, incurring a yearly cost of £17bn.The government welcomed the London School of Economics and Institute of Psychiatry research, and said dementia care was already a priority. The total number of people with dementia in the UK will increase to 940,110 by 2021, they predict.By 2051 the figure will be 1,735,087-an increase of 154% from now-, which will mean dementia will affect the lives of around one in three people either as a sufferer, or as a carer or relative.This is mainly because of the UK's ageing population. However, conditions such as high cholesterol and blood pressure, and lack of exercise are also thought to increase the risk.One in 20 people over 65 and one in five people over 80 has a form of dementia. Around two thirds of those affected have Alzheimer's disease.There is no cure for dementia, and those with the condition need increasing care as the disease progresses.
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