ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS DAY 2024

Alzheimer’s Disease International published its latest report, ‘Global changes in attitudes to dementia’ in accordance to the awareness day. 

The 2024 World Alzheimer’s Report explores attitudes toward dementia, examining how the condition is perceived and understood by society and the stigma that still surrounds the condition, underpinned by a global survey of more than 40,000 individuals across 166 counties and territories. The survey is a follow-up to ADI’s landmark 2019 attitudes to dementia survey, and explores how perceptions of dementia have, or haven’t, changed in the span of five years. 

 

Key findings from the report include:

 

• 65% of health and care professionals incorrectly believe dementia is a normal part of ageing. 

• 80% of the general public believe dementia is a normal part of ageing, a dramatic increase compared to 66% in 2019. 

• 88% of people living with dementia indicate experiencing discrimination. 

• Over a quarter of people globally incorrectly believe there is nothing we can do to prevent dementia, with that number increasing from 20% in 2019 to 37% in lower- and middle-income countries. 

• More than 90% of carers and respondents from the general public said they would be encouraged to get a diagnosis if a disease-modifying treatment for dementia was available. 

• More than 80% of the general public believe that they can change the support provided to people with dementia through their vote. 

• Over 58% of the general public believe dementia is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. 

 

In other news, Dementia UK, asked people living with, or caring for someone with dementia, what they would say to the Prime Minister. Dementia UK is campaigning for better care so that everyone affected by dementia gets the specialist support they deserve. The charity works with Parliament to raise awareness among decision-makers to ensure that people have their voices heard.

The campaign was a chance for everyone to come together to raise awareness of dementia and to address the stigma and discrimination that still exists around the condition. World Alzheimer’s Day took place during the month on 21st September. 

The charity says that today, nearly one million people in the UK live with dementia. That’s almost a million families living with the condition. However, the charity says too often their voices go unheard. 

One campaigner says in the video, “If I had one minute with the Prime Minister, I would say, don’t write me off.” 

 

Visit the Dementia UK YouTube channel to watch the campaign video in full.