Deaths From Dementias Increase In Scotland

26th September 2023

6,277 deaths caused by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias were registered in 2022, this is an increase of 231 from 2021, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland.

Over 80% of deaths caused by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias occurred amongst people aged over 80. Females accounted for two thirds of the deaths.

Sixty-four per cent of the deaths took place in care homes while 22% were in hospitals and 14% at home or in non-institutional settings.

At local health board level, over the last five years, Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Forth Valley had the highest mortality rates. The lowest rate was in the Borders.

Daniel Burns, Head of Vital Events Statistics, said:

"Deaths from dementias are one of the highest causes of death in Scotland. The mortality rate for 2022 is twice what it was in 2000.

"The increase may partly be driven by increasingly life expectancy, particularly among females, and the high number of children born in the post war years reaching the age at which Alzheimer's and other dementias are the leading cause of death.

"Those living in the most deprived areas of Scotland are 1.3 times as likely to die of dementia when compared to those living in the least deprived areas. This compares with 1.8 times as likely for deaths from all causes."

Key Findings
• There were 6,277 deaths caused by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in Scotland in 2022, an increase of 4% (231 deaths) on 2021.

• The rate of mortality caused by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias was 121 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022. This makes these conditions one of the highest causes of death in Scotland.

• There was a slight increase from 117 deaths per 100,000 in 2021. The current rate of 121 deaths per 100,000 people is more than twice as high as it was in 2000 (56 deaths per 100,000).

• Of the 6,277 deaths caused by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in 2022, 3,989 (64%) took place within care homes, 1,366 (22%) within hospitals, and 869 (14%) within a home/non-institution.

• Where Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are mentioned on the death certificate as a contributing factor there was 10,705 deaths in 2022 with a mortality rate of 205 per 100,000 people (an increase of 54% in since 2000). In 2020, deaths in this category peaked at 241 deaths per 100,000. This is most likely due the effect of deaths caused by COVID-19 during this year.

• Around two thirds of deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias were females - there were 4,139 (66%) female deaths and 2,138 (34%) male deaths.

• Over 4 in 5 (84%) of deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias occur over the age of 80, with an average age of 87. For females, the average is slightly higher at 88 but for males the average is 85.

• After adjusting for age and population size, the mortality rate for deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias was highest in the Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Forth Valley NHS board areas.

• Deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias were 1.3 times as likely in the most deprived areas of Scotland compared to the least deprived areas. This is a statistically significant difference, but the gap is smaller than the equivalent figure for all causes of death.

Deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in
Scotland
There were 6,277 deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in Scotland in 2022, an increase of 4% (231 deaths) on 2021. The highest number of deaths was seen in 2017, with 6,549 deaths. The rate of mortality from deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias was 121 deaths per 100,000 people in
2022 (Figure 1). There was a slight increase from 117 deaths per 100,000 in 2021.

The current rate of 121 deaths per 100,000 people is more than twice as high as it was in 2000 (56 deaths per 100,000).

Read the full report HERE
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