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Over Half of Adults with Learning Disabilities in England Die Before 65, Though Avoidable Deaths Fell from 46% to 39%
A final LeDeR report found adults with learning disabilities die on average 19 years younger than the general population. Avoidable deaths fell to 39 percent in 2024 but stayed nearly double the rate for others. The government and NHS England outlined new measures to track outcomes and improve care.
Jul 13, 1:14 PM·2m read1 source
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More than half of adults with learning disabilities in England die before age 65, compared with 15 percent of the general population, according to the final Learning Disabilities Mortality Review report published Monday. The review, compiled by King's College London, examined deaths recorded between 2021 and 2024 and found those with learning disabilities died on average 19 years younger than the rest of the population.
The proportion of avoidable deaths among people with learning disabilities fell from 46 percent in 2021 to 39 percent in 2024, BBC News reported.
That rate remained almost double the figure for the general adult population. The LeDeR review was established in 2015 to examine high mortality rates. Health minister Preet Kaur Gill said the statistics were unacceptable.
She stated the government is committed to early intervention and better identification of people with learning disabilities on GP registers to ensure health checks occur. NHS England will introduce a reasonable adjustment digital flag for all disabled people to record needed adjustments.
Specialist learning disability and autism nurses fell 44 percent from 7,000 to 4,500 over the past decade, with only 500 new recruits this year, according to the Royal College of Nurses.
The government said more than five million people have completed mandatory training on learning disability and autism care. Monday's report is the last LeDeR publication in its current format. Future data on learning disability, autism, and ADHD outcomes will be recorded alongside other health outcomes in England.
