FUNDAMENTAL FACTS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH 2016

• Pre-existing dementia is one of the
• The Royal College of General
from.
• People with learning disabilities, in
• A study on the prevalence of mental
particular those living with Down’s
health problems in hospitalised
syndrome, have a greater risk of
older adults in England, conducted
developing dementia. It has been
in Nottingham, found that 27% of
estimated that one in five people
older adults aged 70 and over had
with learning disabilities will develop
delirium. 189 dementia, 195 and that a third of
Practitioners reports that fewer
than one in six older people with
depression discuss their symptoms
with their GP. Furthermore, only half
receive suitable treatment. 185
most prominent risk factors for
delirium in elderly patients, with a
reported two thirds of all cases of
delirium occurring in older people
with pre-existing dementia. 190
• In 2008–09, 4% of adults
accessing the Improving Access Dementia
to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)
programme were aged over 64. This
increased to 6.6% of those aged 65
and older completing treatment in
2013–14; however, there is still much
to be done to reach the 12% set out
• In 2015, a report from Alzheimer’s
Disease International (ADI)
estimated the number of people
living with dementia worldwide to
be 46.8 million, and predicted this
number to double by 2030. 191
in ‘Talking Therapies: A four-year
• ADI also reports that dementia
plan of action’. 186
is primarily prevalent in older
• It is estimated that up to 40% of
older adults living in a care home
experience depression, and it often
remains undetected. 187
people, although 2–8% of all cases
of dementia are estimated to be
early-onset dementia (dementia
diagnosed under the age of 65). In
•
Europe, the peak incidence is among
It is estimated that up to 60% of
those aged 80–89.
older adults who have had a stroke
may experience depression, as well
as up to 40% of those with coronary
heart disease, cancer, Parkinson’s,
and Alzheimer’s disease. 188
• In 2015, an estimated 850,000
people lived with dementia in the
UK. Of these, 84% lived in England,
8% in Scotland, 5% in Wales and 2%
in Northern Ireland. 193
Delirium
Delirium is a condition that results
in confused thinking and reduced
awareness. The changes associated with
delirium usually occur rapidly within
hours or days and, if responded to
quickly, delirium can be fully recovered
• It has been estimated that the total
cost of dementia in the UK is £26.3
billion, with an average cost of
£32,250 per person. According to
Alzheimer’s Society, this is enough
to pay energy bills for a year for
every household in the UK. 194
people with Down’s syndrome will
develop dementia in their 50s. 196
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