A new study has found that more older people in the UK are reporting memory problems than ever before. These issues—like forgetting things or having trouble thinking clearly—are a growing concern, especially as they can be early signs of dementia.
Researchers looked at the medical records of over 1.3 million people aged 65 to 99, covering the years from 2009 to 2018. Their goal was to understand how often people talked to their doctors about memory concerns or mental decline and what happened after that.
Back in 2009, for every 1,000 older adults monitored for a year, about one new person was found to have memory problems. But by 2018, that number had tripled—three out of every 1,000 people developed these issues each year.
Brendan Hallam, a Ph.D. student at University College London who led the study, said this shows memory concerns are becoming more common among older people in the UK.
The researchers believe part of the rise may be due to more people visiting their doctors when they notice memory changes. Over the last decade, health campaigns have encouraged older adults to speak up early if they feel something is wrong. This helps doctors spot problems sooner and possibly start treatment earlier if needed.
The study also found that women, people over 80, and those living in poorer areas were more likely to talk to their doctors about memory concerns. These groups were also more likely to receive a dementia diagnosis later on.
So, what happens after someone reports memory trouble to their doctor? The study revealed that nearly half of them developed dementia within three years. And if the doctor had already written down that the person was having mental decline—meaning they were already struggling more than usual—then more than half of them developed dementia in that same time frame.
Professor Kate Walters, who worked on the study, said it’s important to understand what these numbers mean. If a doctor writes down that someone is having memory problems, there’s about a 50% chance that person will be diagnosed with dementia in the next few years.
Brendan Hallam added that memory and thinking problems don’t always mean someone already has dementia—but they do show a much higher risk of getting it. This is why doctors should take memory concerns seriously and try to support patients as early as possible. They might offer advice on how to improve memory or refer them for further tests.
The study did have some limits. For example, not all doctors record memory concerns the same way. This means some cases might be missed or counted differently. Also, many people may have memory problems but never talk to their doctor about them, so the real numbers could be even higher.
Still, this study sends a clear message: memory and thinking problems are becoming more common, and they may be a warning sign for something more serious. If you or someone you care about is noticing changes in memory, it’s important to talk to a doctor early. Getting help sooner could lead to better care and more options.
The full research was published in the journal Clinical Epidemiology.
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