New Research Shows Lack of Awareness Around Dementia

17th July 2024

New research has revealed a lack of understanding around dementia and the impact it has on society.

In a survey with 1,000 people[i], although 43% of those questioned said they know someone with dementia, 50% are unaware that it can be treated and 47% do not know the correct cause of dementia (damage to nerve cells to the brain)[ii], with some wrongly thinking it is a natural part of ageing (15%) or is hereditary (11%).

The research[1] was carried out by Luye Pharma Ltd as part of its ‘Let’s talk Dementia’ campaign – www.letstalkdementia.co.uk – to raise awareness of dementia and offer help and support for those whose lives have been affected by the condition.

People are also unsure about the burden of care that dementia can cause. 87% of those questioned do not know that one in three people in the UK will care for someone with dementia at some point in their life.[iii] Six out of 10 incorrectly think that dementia care (e.g. care home) is paid for by the NHS or a charity[iv] and 92% don’t know that dementia costs the UK £42 billion annually.[v]

GP and media medic Dr Rosemary Leonard, who is working with the Let’s talk Dementia campaign, said: “As a GP, I see a lot of people with dementia, and their carers, and this has increased significantly since Covid. People are scared of dementia and automatically fear the worst, which is why we need to start talking about it more and provide help and support for those going through it.

“One of the most important things is to come forward early – dementia can be treated and managed and the earlier treatment starts the better the outcome can be. Treatment also doesn’t just mean medical interventions – there are many lifestyle initiatives that can help. The Let’s talk Dementia campaign offers advice and tools that can make a really positive difference for those living with dementia.”

[1] The research was conducted in March 2024 with 1,000 people across the UK aged 18 to 65 years old to gain an understanding of what people know about dementia. Participants were asked 15 questions, covering areas including what causes dementia, can it be treated, how many people are affected, what are the risk factors and what is the care burden.

There are currently more than 944,000 people in the UK who have dementia and 1 in 11 people over the age of 65 have the condition.[i] It is estimated that up to 1.7 million people could be living with dementia in England and Wales by 2040.[ii]

Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of progressive disorders affecting the brain. There are different types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common. Signs and symptoms include memory problems, impaired cognitive ability (for example struggling with decision making and reasoning), communication problems and loss of interest in activities, as well as mood swings, anxiety and depression.[iii]

Although the majority of the people in the research are familiar with the common early signs of dementia, such as memory problems (78%) and struggling with decision making (69%), some wrongly believe that headaches (19%), fatigue (27%) and joint/mobility problems (13%) are all symptoms.

Added Dr Rosemary: “Although memory problems are the main symptom of dementia, having memory issues doesn’t necessarily mean you have dementia. There are other conditions that can cause memory difficulties. This is why it’s so important to come forward early so we can establish what is causing the problem and, if it is dementia, offer treatment and support.”

The research showed that people are concerned about access to dementia information (how it is diagnosed and managed, symptoms, where to get help and support). 57% think there is not enough information and 22% are unsure.

To find out more about dementia, go to www.letstalkdementia.co.uk

To watch Dr Rosemary’s video: https://vimeo.com/960989121/a2140b4d2a?share=copy

[i] NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/about-dementia/what-is-dementia/#:~:text=How%20common%20is%20dementia,because%20people%20are%20living%20longer.

(accessed May 2024)

[ii] Chen Y et al. Lancet Public Health. 2023 Nov;8(11):e859-e867. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00214-1. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(23)00214-1/fulltext (accessed May 2024)

[iii] Dementia UK https://www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/about-dementia/what-are-the-symptoms-of-dementia/ (accessed May 2024)

[i] Data on file (Luye Pharma Ltd, March 2024)

[ii] NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/about-dementia/causes/ (accessed May 2024)

[iii] NHS England https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/dementia/ (accessed May 2024)

[iv] NHS. Paying for a Care Home https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/care-and-support/care-homes/#:~:text=Who%20pays%20for%20care%20will,you’ll%20have%20to%20pay. (accessed May 2024)

[v] Alzheimer’s Society https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/news/2024-05-10/soaring-dementia-care-costs-uk-42-billion (accessed May 2024)