Chapter 6: Strengthen the role and impact of ill health prevention

Since 2002, the rates of dementia and Alzheimer's among women aged 85 and over have been rising. 

From 2002 to 2015 there was an increase of around 175% in dementia as the cause of death in women aged 85 and above.
(Allen J & Sesti F. (2018). Health inequalities and women - addressing unmet needs. BMA.)

The prevalence of dementia is higher in women than men. Evidence suggests that women with dementia have fewer visits to the GP, receive less health monitoring and take more potentially harmful medication than men with dementia. Furthermore, women were found to be at particular risk of staying on antipsychotic or sedative medication for longer, probably due to the lower number of appointments where their treatment can be reviewed.
(Allen J & Sesti F. (2018). Health inequalities and women - addressing unmet needs. BMA.)

 Age standardised mortality rate - Dementia and Alzheimer's disease, by gender. Gateshead vs England (rate per 100,000)
(ONS. (2022). Mortality Statistics - underlying cause, sex and age. (Accessed from NOMIS).)

Within the North of Tyne and Gateshead Integrated Care Partnership (covering Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle and Gateshead), there are 4,147 people on the dementia register. This equates to a prevalence of 0.77%, which is largely in line with the England average of 0.72%. Of those aged 65 years and above, 64% are female.
(NHS Digital. (2022). Recorded Dementia Diagnoses, September 2022.)

It is estimated that there are 2,668 patients aged over 64 years with dementia in Gateshead. 1,936 of these have a recorded diagnosis of dementia, which amounts to a diagnosis rate of 72.6%.
(NHS Digital. (2022). Recorded Dementia Diagnoses, September 2022.)

Of the 26,854 patients on the dementia register in the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System, 2,090 have a prescription for anti-psychotic medication. Just over 20% of these have a psychosis diagnosis.
(NHS Digital. (2022). Recorded Dementia Diagnoses, September 2022.)

It is important to understand what prevents or delays the onset of dementia. A study of socioeconomic position as a risk factor for death due to dementia showed that in women there is an association between leaving full-time education at a younger age and dementia-related death, which is not evident in men.
(Brayne C, Ince P, Keage H et al. (2010). Education, the brain and dementia: neuroprotection or compensation? EClipSE Collaborative Members. Brain. 133:8, p2210-2216.)

It has also been identified that excessive alcohol consumption over a lengthy time period can lead to brain damage, and may increase the risk of developing dementia.
(Alzheimers Society. (2022). Alcohol and Dementia)