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Charity warns of rise in long-term aged-related illnesses

by
13 January 2009

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Long-term illnesses such as coronary heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia will affect millions more older people by 2025, a charity has warned.

Data from Research into Ageing, the research arm of Help the Aged, says that the number aged over 65 will rise to 14 million (up 42%), and those with long-term illnesses to 6.1 million (45%).

It estimates that those living with the effects of stroke, which mostly strikes people over the age of 60, will rise from 601,000 to 878,000 (46%).

Those with late-onset dementia will rise from 668,000 to one million (50%), and those with incontinence by more than 3 million to 4.1 million (37%).

Coronary heart disease cases will increase from 1.8 million to 2.6 million (42%), osteoporosis from three million to 4.1 million (37%), osteoarthritis from eight million to 11 million (37%) and macular degeneration of vision from 2.5 million to 3.8 million (52%).

Those living with a disability over the age of 65 will increase from around 868,000 now to more than 1.4 million (67%) by 2025.

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Research into Ageing