Overview

• Nearly one million people in the UK live with dementia and around a third remain undiagnosed, delaying access to support and treatments.
• Alzheimer’s Research UK reports that patients in some areas endure waits of up to 12 months between referral and diagnosis, with longer delays in deprived regions.
• The Dementia Unseen campaign demands GPs refer suspected dementia cases to specialists within six weeks and deliver a diagnosis and treatment plan within 18 weeks.
• The NHS has removed its target to diagnose 66.7% of dementia cases from its 2025-26 planning guidance, prompting calls for new benchmarks.
• Recent rejections of the Alzheimer’s drugs lecanemab and donanemab for NHS use underscore the importance of early detection and timely care planning.