Home / Health / Dementia's 'Triple Burden' Hits Women Hardest
Dementia's 'Triple Burden' Hits Women Hardest
28 Jun
Summary
- Women are twice as likely to die from dementia.
- Dementia deaths in England and Wales hit a record high in 2025.
- Women face higher risks of developing, dying from, and caring for dementia patients.
Dementia has become a significant and disproportionate health crisis for women, who are twice as likely to die from the condition. In 2025, dementia was the leading cause of death in England and Wales outside of the COVID-19 pandemic years, with record-breaking fatalities.
Office for National Statistics data revealed 72,272 deaths from dementia in England and Wales in 2025, an increase of 4,000 from the previous year. Alarmingly, almost two-thirds of these deaths, totaling 45,874, were among women. This figure represents one in six of all female deaths, rising to a quarter for women aged 80 and over.
Beyond mortality, women also bear the brunt of caregiving responsibilities, with 68 percent of unpaid carers for dementia patients being female. This "triple burden" – developing the condition, dying from it, and providing care – necessitates urgent government attention and research into the specific challenges women face. Misdiagnosis is also a concern, as dementia can present subtly in women, often mistaken for menopause or depression.
