Although dementia diagnosis rates have increased to 64.8% in 2024, these continue to be significantly below pre-pandemic levels, new statistics from the Department of Health and Social Care show. This comes as a new study revealed Shingles vaccine as a potential prevention tool against dementia.
Dementia diagnosis rates, calculated by comparing recorded diagnosis to estimated dementia prevalence, have reached their highest level since 2020, rising by 3% compared to 2021.
However, they remain significantly below pre-pandemic levels, which stood at 68.7% in 2019. This is due to an NHS backlog in referrals and diagnostics during Covid, and comes after the NHS England’s target for increasing diagnostics was removed from the Operation Planning Guidance 2025-2026.
Polimapper has visualised the data on Dementia to reveal cross country disparities.
The local authority with the highest diagnostic rates of dementia, amongst a population of 65 years and over, was Stoke-on-Trent, at 90.5%. This was followed by Rotherham at 86.5% and Southend-on-Sea at 83.4%. Conversely, Swindon (51.3%), Rutland (52.3%) and Dorset (52.7%) were amongst the local authorities with the lowest rates registered.
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The map below shows Dementia Statistics for 2022, 2023 and 2024, by local authority.
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The report of low dementia diagnosis rates comes as a new study reveals that older adults who received a vaccine against shingles were 20% less likely to develop dementia in the seven years which followed the vaccination. This represents a major breakthrough in Dementia prevention.
Julia Dudley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK: “It’s unclear exactly how the shingles vaccine might influence dementia risk. It may reduce inflammation, support the immune system in ways that protect the brain or involve other mechanisms. It’s important to note that this study looked at the Zostavax vaccine rather than Shingrix, which is now more commonly used.”
“Understanding this link better, including the reason for any differences between men and women, could open new avenues for dementia prevention and treatment”