England - April to June 2025
Published 11 September 2025
Summary
Between April and June 2025:
There were 1.2 million drugs for dementia prescribed to an estimated 277,000 identified patients.
The cost of prescribed drugs for dementia was £8.4 million.
1. Things you should know
Drugs for dementia are described in the British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.11:
- 0411000D0 - Donepezil hydrochloride
- 0411000E0 - Rivastigmine
- 0411000F0 - Galantamine
- 0411000G0 - Memantine hydrochloride
1.1. Drugs for dementia
Dementia is a progressive clinical syndrome characterised by a range of cognitive and behavioural symptoms that can include memory loss, problems with reasoning and communication, a change in personality, and a reduced ability to carry out daily activities such as washing or dressing. There are over 100 different types of dementia. The most common forms are:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Vascular dementia
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Pick’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Alcohol-related dementia
- HIV/AIDS related dementia
Dementia mainly affects older people but can also occur in people as young as thirty, due to either alcohol abuse or HIV/AIDS. No cure for dementia currently exists. However, drugs may slow the rate of decline or, in some patients, make a small improvement in symptoms. Despite this, disease progression is inevitable.
You can find more information about the various types of dementia on the NHS website.
2. Results - Drugs for dementia
Number of prescribed items and identified patients by financial quarter - BNF 4.11: Drugs for dementia
Chart
Figure 1: Drugs for dementia items and identified patients increased in Q1 2025/26
Table
Table 1: Drugs for dementia items and identified patients increased in Q1 2025/26
| Financial quarter | BNF section name | Total prescribed items | Identified patients |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/2021 Q2 | Drugs for dementia | 1,003,614 | 223,741 |
| 2020/2021 Q3 | Drugs for dementia | 1,024,994 | 225,865 |
| 2020/2021 Q4 | Drugs for dementia | 982,014 | 223,757 |
| 2021/2022 Q1 | Drugs for dementia | 996,880 | 223,836 |
| 2021/2022 Q2 | Drugs for dementia | 1,022,086 | 228,030 |
| 2021/2022 Q3 | Drugs for dementia | 1,031,912 | 231,152 |
| 2021/2022 Q4 | Drugs for dementia | 1,016,162 | 232,283 |
| 2022/2023 Q1 | Drugs for dementia | 1,038,052 | 234,161 |
| 2022/2023 Q2 | Drugs for dementia | 1,055,461 | 237,651 |
| 2022/2023 Q3 | Drugs for dementia | 1,075,635 | 241,777 |
| 2022/2023 Q4 | Drugs for dementia | 1,068,191 | 243,260 |
| 2023/2024 Q1 | Drugs for dementia | 1,080,309 | 246,593 |
| 2023/2024 Q2 | Drugs for dementia | 1,113,556 | 252,153 |
| 2023/2024 Q3 | Drugs for dementia | 1,148,688 | 258,377 |
| 2023/2024 Q4 | Drugs for dementia | 1,139,885 | 260,867 |
| 2024/2025 Q1 | Drugs for dementia | 1,166,695 | 263,548 |
| 2024/2025 Q2 | Drugs for dementia | 1,204,397 | 268,203 |
| 2024/2025 Q3 | Drugs for dementia | 1,229,016 | 272,900 |
| 2024/2025 Q4 | Drugs for dementia | 1,194,400 | 274,157 |
| 2025/2026 Q1 | Drugs for dementia | 1,229,360 | 276,858 |
Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Drugs for dementia
1.2 million drugs for dementia items were prescribed in Q1 2025/26.
277,000 identified patients received a drugs for dementia item in Q1 2025/26.
Drugs for dementia items and identified patients continue their upward trend. Items increased by 2.9% and identified patients by 1.0%, compared to the previous quarter.
Cost of prescribing by financial quarter - BNF 4.11: Drugs for dementia
Chart
Figure 2: Drugs for dementia costs increased in Q1 2025/26 compared to Q4 2024/25
Table
Table 2: Drugs for dementia costs increased in Q1 2025/26 compared to Q4 2024/25
| Financial quarter | BNF section name | Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020/2021 Q2 | Drugs for dementia | 8,495,838 |
| 2020/2021 Q3 | Drugs for dementia | 8,347,260 |
| 2020/2021 Q4 | Drugs for dementia | 7,254,608 |
| 2021/2022 Q1 | Drugs for dementia | 7,154,493 |
| 2021/2022 Q2 | Drugs for dementia | 6,704,329 |
| 2021/2022 Q3 | Drugs for dementia | 6,356,728 |
| 2021/2022 Q4 | Drugs for dementia | 6,138,370 |
| 2022/2023 Q1 | Drugs for dementia | 6,255,712 |
| 2022/2023 Q2 | Drugs for dementia | 6,239,087 |
| 2022/2023 Q3 | Drugs for dementia | 6,508,811 |
| 2022/2023 Q4 | Drugs for dementia | 6,554,313 |
| 2023/2024 Q1 | Drugs for dementia | 6,684,586 |
| 2023/2024 Q2 | Drugs for dementia | 6,750,895 |
| 2023/2024 Q3 | Drugs for dementia | 7,516,020 |
| 2023/2024 Q4 | Drugs for dementia | 7,947,640 |
| 2024/2025 Q1 | Drugs for dementia | 7,791,416 |
| 2024/2025 Q2 | Drugs for dementia | 7,840,966 |
| 2024/2025 Q3 | Drugs for dementia | 9,023,459 |
| 2024/2025 Q4 | Drugs for dementia | 8,295,616 |
| 2025/2026 Q1 | Drugs for dementia | 8,409,880 |
Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Drugs for dementia
In Q1 2025/26, the cost of prescribed drugs for dementia items was £8.4 million.
Compared to the previous quarter, the cost of drugs for dementia increased by 1.4% in Q1 2025/26.
Number of prescribed items and identified patients by month - BNF 4.11: Drugs for dementia
Chart
Figure 3: Latest 12-month rolling averages for drugs for dementia items and identified patients increased compared to the previous 12-month period
Table
Table 3: Latest 12-month rolling averages for drugs for dementia items and identified patients increased compared to the previous 12-month period
| Month | BNF section name | Total prescribed items | Identified patients | Rolling average items | Rolling average patients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202007 | Drugs for dementia | 348,042 | 189,902 | 352,189 | 191,543 |
| 202008 | Drugs for dementia | 320,282 | 183,097 | 348,482 | 190,782 |
| 202009 | Drugs for dementia | 335,290 | 186,773 | 347,648 | 190,594 |
| 202010 | Drugs for dementia | 343,963 | 189,062 | 345,481 | 190,188 |
| 202011 | Drugs for dementia | 330,119 | 185,882 | 343,464 | 189,584 |
| 202012 | Drugs for dementia | 350,912 | 189,455 | 342,885 | 189,246 |
| 202101 | Drugs for dementia | 330,295 | 185,214 | 340,024 | 188,382 |
| 202102 | Drugs for dementia | 307,722 | 179,149 | 338,071 | 187,600 |
| 202103 | Drugs for dementia | 343,997 | 186,198 | 337,364 | 186,961 |
| 202104 | Drugs for dementia | 333,331 | 186,310 | 334,746 | 186,321 |
| 202105 | Drugs for dementia | 323,087 | 184,472 | 333,901 | 186,056 |
| 202106 | Drugs for dementia | 340,462 | 189,219 | 333,958 | 186,228 |
| 202107 | Drugs for dementia | 344,772 | 190,556 | 333,686 | 186,282 |
| 202108 | Drugs for dementia | 333,145 | 187,932 | 334,758 | 186,685 |
| 202109 | Drugs for dementia | 344,169 | 190,928 | 335,498 | 187,031 |
| 202110 | Drugs for dementia | 330,667 | 187,461 | 334,390 | 186,898 |
| 202111 | Drugs for dementia | 343,889 | 190,621 | 335,537 | 187,293 |
| 202112 | Drugs for dementia | 357,356 | 193,656 | 336,074 | 187,643 |
| 202201 | Drugs for dementia | 340,493 | 190,347 | 336,924 | 188,071 |
| 202202 | Drugs for dementia | 319,682 | 185,853 | 337,921 | 188,629 |
| 202203 | Drugs for dementia | 355,987 | 194,375 | 338,920 | 189,311 |
| 202204 | Drugs for dementia | 339,896 | 190,875 | 339,467 | 189,691 |
| 202205 | Drugs for dementia | 354,086 | 193,433 | 342,050 | 190,438 |
| 202206 | Drugs for dementia | 344,070 | 192,358 | 342,351 | 190,700 |
| 202207 | Drugs for dementia | 344,975 | 193,022 | 342,368 | 190,905 |
| 202208 | Drugs for dementia | 359,193 | 196,532 | 344,539 | 191,622 |
| 202209 | Drugs for dementia | 351,293 | 195,569 | 345,132 | 192,008 |
| 202210 | Drugs for dementia | 354,801 | 197,022 | 347,143 | 192,805 |
| 202211 | Drugs for dementia | 362,293 | 199,101 | 348,677 | 193,512 |
| 202212 | Drugs for dementia | 358,541 | 198,024 | 348,776 | 193,876 |
| 202301 | Drugs for dementia | 360,567 | 199,120 | 350,449 | 194,607 |
| 202302 | Drugs for dementia | 331,568 | 192,329 | 351,439 | 195,147 |
| 202303 | Drugs for dementia | 376,056 | 203,478 | 353,112 | 195,905 |
| 202304 | Drugs for dementia | 340,140 | 196,169 | 353,132 | 196,346 |
| 202305 | Drugs for dementia | 366,717 | 203,452 | 354,184 | 197,181 |
| 202306 | Drugs for dementia | 373,452 | 206,198 | 356,633 | 198,335 |
| 202307 | Drugs for dementia | 365,667 | 206,110 | 358,357 | 199,425 |
| 202308 | Drugs for dementia | 377,233 | 208,699 | 359,861 | 200,439 |
| 202309 | Drugs for dementia | 370,656 | 208,464 | 361,474 | 201,514 |
| 202310 | Drugs for dementia | 379,810 | 211,007 | 363,558 | 202,679 |
| 202311 | Drugs for dementia | 387,153 | 213,427 | 365,630 | 203,873 |
| 202312 | Drugs for dementia | 381,725 | 212,905 | 367,562 | 205,113 |
| 202401 | Drugs for dementia | 393,994 | 216,038 | 370,348 | 206,523 |
| 202402 | Drugs for dementia | 371,317 | 211,273 | 373,660 | 208,102 |
| 202403 | Drugs for dementia | 374,574 | 212,259 | 373,536 | 208,833 |
| 202404 | Drugs for dementia | 390,826 | 216,484 | 377,760 | 210,526 |
| 202405 | Drugs for dementia | 398,328 | 219,162 | 380,395 | 211,836 |
| 202406 | Drugs for dementia | 377,541 | 215,233 | 380,735 | 212,588 |
| 202407 | Drugs for dementia | 415,283 | 223,713 | 384,870 | 214,055 |
| 202408 | Drugs for dementia | 397,520 | 220,986 | 386,561 | 215,079 |
| 202409 | Drugs for dementia | 391,594 | 221,282 | 388,305 | 216,147 |
| 202410 | Drugs for dementia | 415,272 | 225,726 | 391,261 | 217,374 |
| 202411 | Drugs for dementia | 400,307 | 222,852 | 392,357 | 218,159 |
| 202412 | Drugs for dementia | 413,437 | 225,650 | 394,999 | 219,222 |
| 202501 | Drugs for dementia | 420,491 | 227,805 | 397,208 | 220,202 |
| 202502 | Drugs for dementia | 377,977 | 218,177 | 397,762 | 220,777 |
| 202503 | Drugs for dementia | 395,932 | 224,210 | 399,542 | 221,773 |
| 202504 | Drugs for dementia | 403,678 | 225,080 | 400,613 | 222,490 |
| 202505 | Drugs for dementia | 415,961 | 229,144 | 402,083 | 223,322 |
| 202506 | Drugs for dementia | 409,721 | 227,945 | 404,764 | 224,381 |
Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Drugs for dementia
An average of 224,000 patients per month received prescribing for drugs for dementia over the 12 months to June 2025.
Drugs for dementia items increased by 6.3% in the 12 months to June 2025, compared to the previous 12 months.
3. Sections in this release
- Medicines used in Mental Health summary
- BNF Section 4.3 - Antidepressant drugs
- BNF Section 4.1 - Hypnotics and anxiolytics
- BNF Section 4.2 - Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders
- BNF Section 4.4 - Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants and drugs used for ADHD
- Medicines used in Mental Health background