Alzheimer’s and dementia deaths reach highest total since 2000, new figures show

Deaths from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have risen to their highest total since 2000, new figures have revealed.

Official data from National Records of Scotland (NRS) showed a total of 6,612 deaths were caused by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in 2024 – a 2% rise from the previous year.

Such cases now make up about one in 10 of all deaths in Scotland.

The figures showed the death rate from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia has almost doubled in the last two decades, with the most recent data showing there were 122 deaths per 100,000 people in Scotland in 2024.

The vast majority of fatalities were among those older than 80, with 85% of deaths from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias occurring in this age group.

The figures also showed almost two-thirds (64%) of deaths due to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias occurred in care homes – with 4,258 deaths taking place in such settings.

Meanwhile, almost two-thirds (64%) of those whose deaths were caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias were female, with 36% male.

NRS also found death rates for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in the most deprived areas were 1.3 higher than they were in the least deprived areas.

However, its report noted: “This compares to the rate of deaths from all causes being twice as high in the most deprived areas as in the least deprived areas.”

Phillipa Haxton, head of vital events at NRS, said the rate of deaths from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias had “risen alongside the growing number of people in the oldest age groups”.

She said: “The average age of death from Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia is 87. Of those who died from these conditions, 85% were over 80.

“This is one of the leading causes of death for people in Scotland and accounts for around one in ten of all deaths.”