THE number of people diagnosed with dementia has soared in the last seven years, new figures show.

The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) said the number of patients with a recorded diagnosis of dementia has increased by 62 per cent, from 213,000 in 2006/7 to 344,000 in 2013/14.

The body only published regional figures since 2012, and these showed the number of patients with a recorded diagnosis of dementia in Blackburn with Darwen has risen to 851 in March 2014, up from 830 the previous year.

In East Lancashire, the number increased from 2,184 to 2,323 over the same period.

The increases could be attributed to an ageing population, improved recording in diagnosis or a number of other factors, the HSCIC said.

Chairman Kingsley Manning said: "We are all aware of the challenges facing our ageing population and these figures will be vital for those planning and monitoring the effectiveness of dementia treatments and services.”