World Alzheimer's Month: Number of sufferers in the Black Country and Staffordshire climbed above 22,000 in 2025
More than 22,000 people in Staffordshire and the Black Country had a dementia diagnosis through the NHS as of July, recent figures show.
September is World Alzheimer's Month, which the Alzheimer's Society described as "a global opportunity to raise dementia awareness and support people affected by the disease."
The charity welcomed the increasing number of people receiving a dementia diagnosis across England, but called for "bold, ambitious action" to ensure equal access to diagnosis and care across the country.
Figures from NHS England show 10,183 people in the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board area received a dementia diagnosis as of the end of July – up 4 per cent from 9,753 a year earlier.
Of those, about 2,535 (25 per cent) had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, 12,341 people received a dementia diagnosis as of the end of July – up 2 per cent from 12,158 a year earlier.
Of those, about 6,350 (51 per cent) had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Across England, 506,549 patients had a recorded diagnosis of dementia at the end of July.
It corresponds to about 0.8 per cent of the population, and marked a 3 per cent increase from 490,163 at the same point in 2024.
The largest proportion were diagnosed with Alzheimer's, at 42 per cent. It was followed by 28 per cent with unspecified dementia, 15 per cent with vascular dementia, and 8 per cent with mixed dementia types.
The figures also show just 66 per cent of people aged 65 and older who are estimated to have dementia in England had a diagnosis recorded at the end of July, up from 65 per cent a year earlier.
This varied significantly across the country: while the highest diagnosis rate reached 76 per cent in South Yorkshire at the end of July, the lowest was 56 per cent in Somerset, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
In the Black Country, this figure stood at 67 per cent.
Tim Baverstock, head of local systems influencing at Alzheimer’s Society, said: "Behind every dementia diagnosis is a person and a family who can finally get the answers and help they need.
"That’s why it’s encouraging to see more people receiving a diagnosis, as it’s the first step towards understanding what’s happening, planning for the future, and unlocking vital care, support, and treatment."
But he called for "equal access" to dementia diagnosis and care across England, adding "without a diagnosis, people can be left to cope alone, risking avoidable crises and hospital admissions".
He explained regional variations in the diagnosis rate can be the result of differences in the number of trained staff, specialist test availability and how well-equipped local services are.
"That’s why we need bold, ambitious action, including renewed national and local targets, long-term investment in diagnostic tools and workforce, and sharing best practice so that everyone, wherever they live, has the same chance of getting an early and accurate diagnosis and the support it brings," he added.
"World Alzheimer’s Month is a reminder that dementia isn’t slowing down – and neither can we.
"If you’re worried about yourself or a loved one, Alzheimer’s Society’s dementia symptoms checklist is a helpful first step in starting a conversation with your GP."
