Family caregiving drives majority of dementia-related costs across Europe

Researchers found that 58% of total dementia-related costs are linked to unpaid care provided by family members, friends and other informal caregivers, highlighting the substantial burden of dementia beyond healthcare systems alone. Notably, unpaid informal care (€128 billion annually) exceeded direct healthcare costs (€93 billion), underscoring the often-hidden contribution made by families and caregivers.

The study estimated that approximately 8.8 million people were living with dementia across high-income European countries in 2019, with dementia-related costs equivalent to around 1.6% of regional GDP, underlining the condition's growing impact on healthcare systems, economies and families.

Dementia is one of Europe's leading causes of disability, dependency and mortality among older adults. As populations continue to age, researchers say both the number of people living with dementia and the economic burden associated with the condition are expected to rise substantially in the coming decades.

As Europe's population continues to age, we can expect the number of people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia to increase substantially in the coming years. One of the most striking findings from this study was the scale of informal care provided by families and friends. While healthcare costs are significant, the majority of the burden falls on unpaid caregivers, whose contribution is often overlooked despite being essential to supporting people living with dementia."