The number of Scots diagnosed with dementia is predicted to reach almost 20,000 a year by 2020, with the condition amounting to "Scotland's biggest health and social care challenge", according to campaigners.
Research commissioned by the Scottish Government is said to provide the "most accurate assessment ever" of the growing number of people affected by the disease.
While there were an estimated 16,172 individuals who were newly-diagnosed with dementia in 2014, this total is estimated to increase by 17% to 19,473 by 2020.
Scotland's top doctor, Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood, said: "This is the most accurate assessment ever of the situation in Scotland and is crucial as we look to meet the needs of people living with dementia or who are newly-diagnosed with the condition."
The research will "help us to plan for the future and ensure that anyone with dementia in Scotland receives the care they need," she added.
"We are transforming the way we treat dementia so more people have their independence for longer and we will use these figures to continue our work towards greater supported self-management at home."
The Scottish Government's standard for support for those discovered to have the condition sets out they should receive a minimum of one year of post-diagnostic support and should also have a "person-centred support plan".
Jim Pearson, Alzheimer Scotland's director of policy and research, said while there had been a "lot of positive progress over recent years", the new figures "show there is a great deal still to do".
He said: "We need to rise to what is Scotland's biggest health and social care challenge.
"The figures will enable us to better work together with our partners, to focus resources and to plan the right services and supports for people living with dementia, their carers and their families.
"Scotland has been at the forefront of improving support for people newly-diagnosed with dementia through the Scottish Government's one-year guarantee of post-diagnostic support, based on a model developed by Alzheimer Scotland.
"It is clear that health and social care partnerships must continue to prioritise investment in this area to support people to come to terms with their diagnosis, live well with the condition and continue to do the things that matter to them in the communities in which they live."
The Scottish Government has already committed to publishing a new dementia strategy in 2017.
Dr Calderwood said: "Our new strategy will continue the national focus we have on supporting better diagnosis rates, embedding post-diagnostic and integrated home-based services, and developing better palliative and end-of-life services for people with dementia and their families and carers."
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