Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41188892›Full record

ArticleBMC medicine2025

Prevalence of living alone with dementia and other progressive neurological conditions: findings from primary care data in England.

Laura D Gamble, Linda Clare, Anthony Martyr, Maria Caulfield, Catherine Charlwood, Claire Hulme, Jan R Oyebode, Matthew Prina

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Laura D GamblePopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. laura.gamble@newcastle.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8496-9705
Linda ClareNIHR Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration University of Exeter (DeNPRU Exeter) , Exeter, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3989-5318
Anthony MartyrNIHR Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration University of Exeter (DeNPRU Exeter) , Exeter, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1702-8902
Maria CaulfieldNIHR Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration University of Exeter (DeNPRU Exeter) , Exeter, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9687-7760
Catherine CharlwoodNIHR Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration University of Exeter (DeNPRU Exeter) , Exeter, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3522-8457
Claire HulmeNIHR Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration University of Exeter (DeNPRU Exeter) , Exeter, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2077-0419
Jan R OyebodeNIHR Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration University of Exeter (DeNPRU Exeter) , Exeter, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0263-8740
Matthew PrinaPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6698-3263

Funding

National Institute for Health and Care Research NIHR206120
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLiving alone with a neurodegenerative condition such as dementia may result in inequalities in access to support and resources. However, estimates of the number of people living alone vary widely in research studies. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of living alone with dementia, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease (MND), and Huntington's disease in England using electronic healthcare records.

methodsIndividuals identified in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) database were categorised as living alone or living with others based on medical codes and the number of people registered at a given GP practice from a household. Excluding those in care facilities, the prevalence of living alone was estimated both overall and stratified by measures of inequality including age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation, urban/rural location, and region. Prevalence estimates of the population living alone, applied to age and sex structures of upper local authority areas, were mapped. Change in prevalence over 15 years was investigated using Joinpoint analysis.

resultsIn 2023, there were 205,507 people with dementia in the CPRD database, 40,244 with Parkinson's disease, 3515 with MND and 1672 with Huntington's disease. Of those with dementia, 40% lived alone, 33% lived alone with Parkinson's disease and MND and 38% lived alone with Huntington's disease. More area-level deprivation and an urban GP practice were associated with living alone for all conditions. For dementia, Parkinson's disease, and MND, there were differences by age, sex, ethnicity and region. The proportion of people living alone with dementia and MND has increased since 2009.

conclusionsA substantial number of people with neurodegenerative conditions are living alone, possibly exposing them to higher risks in some respect than carried by those who live with others. Changes to clinical policy are needed to enable improved support and targeted care for these individuals.

Indexed as

DementiaHuntington DiseaseMotor Neuron DiseaseParkinson DiseasePrimary Health CareAdultAgedAged, 80 and overEnglandFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceAlzheimer’s diseaseChronic neurological disordersHousehold compositionPopulation-based studyResidential statusRoutine dataSocial vulnerabilitySocioeconomic disparitiesSolitary living

Identifiers

PMID41188892
PMCPMC12584314

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.