Over half of adults with learning difficulties do not live past 65, report says
Summary
More than half of adults with learning disabilities in England die before age 65, much younger than the general population. A government report found that while avoidable deaths have decreased, they remain nearly twice as common among people with learning disabilities. The government has promised to take action to improve care and health outcomes.Key Facts
- Over 50% of adults with learning disabilities in England die before age 65, compared to 15% in the general population.
- People with learning disabilities die on average 19 years younger than others.
- Avoidable deaths from treatable conditions like pneumonia or epilepsy fell from 46% in 2021 to 39% in 2024 for this group.
- The LeDeR review, run since 2015, investigates mortality among people with learning disabilities and autism.
- The current LeDeR report will be the last in its present form; future data will be combined with health outcomes for autism and ADHD.
- The government plans to improve early intervention, healthcare staff training, and tracking of people with learning disabilities in health systems.
- NHS England will introduce a digital flag to record reasonable adjustments for disabled patients.
- The number of nurses specialized in learning disabilities and autism has fallen by 44% over the past 10 years.
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