The UK government has announced a plan to diagnose 92 per cent of people with dementia within 18 weeks of a doctor’s referral by 2029 — up from fewer than half today.
A £5m research challenge will fund new diagnostic tools, including blood tests, saliva analysis and AI-driven technologies, to speed up detection and improve care for the one million people living with dementia in the UK.
The announcement was made by science minister Lord Vallance during a visit to the UK Dementia Research Institute in Cambridge with health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed on 24 October.
Potential solutions include blood tests that detect the build-up of abnormal proteins in the brain — a hallmark of dementia that damages nerve cells — and saliva analysis to identify hormonal changes linked to early memory decline. Such innovations could move diagnosis away from traditional tests based on visible cognitive symptoms.
AI-powered daily assistants could also support people through smart speakers or tablets, learning their routines and cognitive abilities. These tools could suggest brain exercises, give task reminders, assist with recipes or connect users with family members via video calls.
With one in four acute hospital beds in England occupied by someone with dementia, these developments aim to help more people receive care in their communities while reducing pressure on the NHS. The number of people with dementia is projected to reach 1.4m by 2040.
“Few people in the UK will go through life untouched by the impact of dementia – whether through a personal diagnosis or by caring for a loved one,” said Lord Vallance.
“We must therefore grasp the opportunities that science and technology offer in getting people the early and effective diagnosis they need to continue living fulfilled lives while reducing the pressure on hospitals.”
Health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said: “For too long, our health system has struggled to support those with complex needs, including the one million people living with dementia. This ambitious challenge represents a crucial step forward in our mission to build an NHS fit for the future.
“By harnessing the power of innovation to diagnose dementia faster and more accurately, we can ensure patients and their families get the support they need earlier, when it can make the greatest difference.”
The Dementia Patient Flow R&I Challenge is the third of five to be launched under the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme, backed by £500m from the Spending Review and coordinated by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
UKRI has also announced £1.2m for two projects accelerating innovation in digital cognitive assessments. Kneu Health, a University of Oxford spinout, will develop smartphone-based cognitive assessment technology that combines digital testing with biomarker analysis — measuring molecules in the body that indicate illness.
Food for the Brain Foundation will receive funding for a web-based test assessing four key brain functions: thinking speed, memory, recognition and decision-making.
The test can be completed in clinics and at home using standard web browsers before being integrated into NHS services.
Professor Siddharthan Chandran, director and chief executive of the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: “As a practising neurologist, I see first-hand the devastating impact that a long delay for diagnosis can have on an individual and their family. We’re now at an inflection point.
“The next five years will see a revolution in both therapeutics and diagnostics for dementia, and we’re already seeing the beginnings of that transformation today.
“Precise, early diagnosis isn’t just about giving people information — it’s about giving them agency, choice, and crucially, access to emerging clinical trials and treatments that offer real hope to slow or stop these conditions.”
Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This funding focus is a welcome boost to UK dementia research, which is already helping to lead the way on cutting-edge tests to detect dementia, through major initiatives like the Blood Biomarker Challenge, which is validating blood tests, and the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme, which brings together industry, academia and the NHS.
“Right now, hundreds of thousands of people living with dementia miss out on a diagnosis – and the answers, care and support that one can bring. That’s not just a crisis. It’s wrong.
“But innovations like blood tests, digital assessments and retinal scans are offering real hope, and they will soon be here.”