Dementia – including the most common form, Alzheimer's disease – by comparison, accounted for just under 60,000 deaths that year. Out of approximately 530,000 total deaths in England and Wales, dementia and Alzheimer's disease were blamed for around 61,700 deaths, overtaking heart disease, which was linked to just over 61,000 deaths. In total, 391,538 deaths were recorded from the six major causes - around four per cent lower than expected, making the sharp rise in dementia deaths an outlier. Underlying causes included heart disease, cancer, influenza and pneumonia, chronic lower respiratory disease, dementia and Alzheimers, and liver disease. 'Behind every statistic is a family – and we are determined to improve dementia care,' they added.

Source: Daily Mail January 24, 2026 02:31 UTC