§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of people who suffer from senile dementia.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergSurveys made in this and other countries have discovered symptoms of dementia in an appreciable proportion of old people, increasing with age; many of these may not be regarded by their families as suffering from more than forgetfulness. On the basis of these surveys we estimate that there are likely to be some half million people aged 65 and over in England who could be diagnosed as having moderate or severe dementia.