Thousands of dementia patients are missing out on drugs that could help them live better for longer due to a damning postcode lottery.
People living in some areas are up to nine-times more likely to be prescribed the life-changing treatments than those living elsewhere, new data from NHS England reveals.
Charities described the ‘widespread variation’ as ‘alarming’ and said it is ‘particularly shocking’ as the dementia medicines recommended by drugs watchdog NICE bring ‘real benefits’ to those diagnosed with the disease.
Evidence shows they can help people manage dementia symptoms by improving cognition, functioning and daily activities – while continued treatment may help people maintain independence for longer.
Alzheimer’s Society research has found 79 per cent of people who received them felt the benefit but access is uneven across the country.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends four drugs for Alzheimer’s disease, mixed dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.
These are donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine – all acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) – and memantine.
At a national level, just 25 per cent of people diagnosed with dementia were prescribed an AChEI in the last year, 23 per cent were prescribed memantine and 6.1 per cent were prescribed both an AChEI and memantine.
Someone diagnosed with dementia in North East and North Cumbria is almost nine times more likely to receive combination dementia treatment than someone in Somerset.
Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP.
However, the proportion of people prescribed an AChEI ranged from 11.7 per cent in Somerset to 31.1 per cent in Lincolnshire, while the proportion prescribed memantine ranged from 9.7 per cent in Birmingham and Solihull to 35.4 per cent in Gloucestershire.
Prescribing rates for both treatments ranged from 1.2 per cent in Somerset to 10.5 per cent in North East and North Cumbria.
This means someone diagnosed with dementia in North East and North Cumbria is almost nine times more likely to receive combination dementia treatment than someone in Somerset.
Michelle Dyson, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘Our analysis of NHS prescribing data shows only a quarter of people diagnosed with dementia are receiving the treatments recommended for them.
‘It also revealed huge regional variations in who gets access.
‘Someone diagnosed in Gloucestershire is three times more likely to be prescribed memantine than someone in Birmingham.
‘Someone in the North East is nearly nine times more likely to get combination treatment than someone in Somerset.
‘Such widespread variation is alarming.
‘It is particularly shocking as these are NICE-recommended treatments that we know bring real benefits, helping people manage symptoms and maintain their independence for longer.
‘So many people appear to be missing out.
‘While we do not know exactly what lies behind these figures, we do know that a failure to invest in, and prioritise, dementia is likely to be playing a part in these high levels of regional variation.
‘We’re calling on Government to guarantee everyone an accurate diagnosis, a care plan, and the start of appropriate treatment within 18 weeks of referral.
Michelle Dyson, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society, described the ‘widespread variation’ as ‘alarming’ and said it is ‘particularly shocking’ as the dementia medicines recommended by drugs watchdog NICE bring ‘real benefits’ to those diagnosed with the disease.
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‘This is the very least people with dementia and their families deserve.’
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The Defeating Dementia campaign aims to raise awareness of the disease, in an effort to increase early diagnosis, boost research and improve care.
The new data does not explain why prescribing rates differ but not everyone diagnosed with dementia will be eligible for treatment, some may decline medication and some may have other health conditions that make prescribing inappropriate.
Furthermore, some may have a type of dementia for which these medicines are not recommended.
However, Alzheimer’s Society says the scale of variation highlights the need to better understand whether inequalities exist and what factors may be driving them.
Middle-aged people with no memory problems will be prescribed a new Alzheimer’s drug in a trial aiming to prevent dementia.
The first participants in Europe will be screened in Britain from today, with more than 15 UK centres expected to take part in the global study.
Previous research on patients with Alzheimer’s suggested the treatment could clear toxic brain plaques after just three monthly infusions.
Now scientists will test whether giving the drug, called trontinemab, before symptoms appear can stop Alzheimer’s developing in the first place.
If it proves successful it has the potential to transform how the disease is treated.
Ultimately, people at high risk could be prescribed drugs preventively in mid-life, in an approach experts have compared to ‘statins for the brain’.
An NHS England spokesperson said: ‘Last year, dementia prescriptions hit a ten-year high – with five million medications given to hundreds of thousands of patients.
‘However, it is not always appropriate or safe for patients with dementia to be given AChEI or memantine, and this is something that can only be decided through a medication review.
‘Thanks to the hard work of NHS clinicians, more than 300,000 people with dementia received a medication review in the year to March 2026.
‘And we are also leading the development of a new national prescribing guidance tool, to be launched next year, which aims to reduce variation and standardise the availability of clinically and cost-effective medicines across England.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘This government is determined to improve outcomes for those living with dementia and the family members who look after them.
‘We are appointing a new dementia tsar to provide dedicated expertise and drive forward innovation and improvements in care.
‘And we are bringing forward the timetable for Baroness Casey’s commission on social care reform to ensure the system gives people dignity, security and support when they need it most.’