Britain is facing a dementia time-bomb with one in three babies born this year set to develop the disease in later life, according to new figures.

Alzheimer's Research UK, which released the stark statistic, warned of a "looming national health crisis" as the population ages.

It called for greater efforts across the globe to help develop new treatments.

Dementia affects 850,000 people in the UK, including 90,000 people in Scotland. More than 3,200 of these people suffer from early onset of the disease and are under 65.

Early symptoms include problems with memory and thinking. As the disease progresses, people can experience difficulty with walking, balance and swallowing.

Alzheimer's Research UK said age was the biggest risk factor for developing dementia.

As people live longer than ever before, the numbers with dementia will rise.

The latest analysis, commissioned by the charity and carried out by the Office of Health Economics, was released to mark World Alzheimer's Day.

It showed 27% of boys born in 2015 will develop the condition in their lifetime, alongside 37% of girls.

Previous research from the same team has estimated that the development of a drug which could delay the onset of dementia by five years would cut the number of cases by a third.

The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer's.

Dr Matthew Norton, head of policy at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "It's wonderful news that each generation is living longer than the last, but it's important to ensure that people can enjoy these extra years in good health.

"Dementia is our greatest medical challenge and, if we are to beat it, we must invest in research to find new treatments and preventions.

"Research has the power to transform lives, and our actions now will help determine the future for children born today."

Amanda Franks, from Swindon, a champion of Alzheimer's Research UK, whose mother Cathy was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's six years ago, said: "My mum was only 58 when she was diagnosed.

"Up until then, we had no idea this devastating disease could affect someone so young.

"Simple day-to-day tasks like making a cup of tea, getting dressed and eating soon became a huge challenge for mum.

"Dad cared for her at home with family help for five years, by which time things were getting out of hand with her violent behaviour and hallucinations - life became extremely stressful.

"As a mum myself, I would dearly love to see preventions and new treatments found to defeat Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, giving hope to people now and future generations."

Also to mark World Alzheimer's Day, the Alzheimer's Society urged people to sign up to become a dementia friend.

The initiative combines face-to-face information sessions and online videos to help people learn more about dementia and ways they can make a difference.

Earlier this month, a study by the a specialist research unit at University College London found that Alzheimer's may be passed on from one person to another by some medical procedures.

These could include dental treatments, the report said.

It was hailed as the evidence of its transmission in humans via microscopic protein molecules.

Blood donations are not considered a meaningful risk, but should be investigated as a precaution, say the researchers.

The scientists stumbled on the discovery while investigating a rare form of "iatrogenic" Creuzfeldt Jakob Disease (iCJD), a brain-destroying condition known to be spread by contaminated surgical instruments and procedures.

They inspected the brains of eight patients relatively young patients who died from the disease after receiving pituitary growth hormone extracted from the brains of cadavers.

Six bore a clear molecular hallmark of Alzheimer's - sticky clumps of fragmented protein called amyloid beta that form among brain cells and on the walls of blood vessels. In four cases, the amyloid deposits were widespread and only one patient was not affected at all.