Study shows most people think dementia is normal part of ageing, rather than a medical condition

In the world’s largest dementia study, Alzheimer’s Society highlights that globally, two-thirds of people believe dementia is a normal part of ageing.

The study which included 70,000 people across 155 countries also reveals 95 per cent of participants think they could develop dementia in their lifetime.

'It’s horrifying to hear that so many are still experiencing stigma'

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Dementia is not a natural part of ageing, yet someone develops it every three seconds – it is a global health crisis. While dementia is affecting more and more people, it’s horrifying to hear that so many who have it are still experiencing terrible stigma as they simply try to get on with their daily lives. This is unacceptable and highlights the urgent need for us all to take action.

“To find that so many UK healthcare professionals agree those in their profession are ignoring vulnerable people with dementia and that only half believe competent practitioners exist in this area when they should be their mainstay of support is deeply concerning.

“We are at the forefront of a movement to alter misconceptions about people with dementia. Today I’m delighted to announce we’ve reached a new milestone, having reached three million Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friends in the UK."

Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 850,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia and dementia deaths are rising year on year and 225,000 will develop dementia this year - that’s one every three minutes.

It also references the great increase in awareness in countries such as the UK, no doubt in part due to Alzheimer’s Society’s ‘dementia friends’ and ‘dementia friendly communities’ initiatives.

'This army of people is making sure that people with dementia are better understood'

This year, World Alzheimer’s Day is 21 September and Alzheimer’s Society is calling on more people to get involved by becoming dementia friends helping make the change that’s so desperately needed by the 850,000 people in the UK and the 50 million across the globe living with dementia.

Mr Hughes said: "This has inspired a global dementia friendly movement of 61 initiatives, leading to 18 million dementia friends worldwide. This army of people is challenging stigma every day in workplaces, schools and public places - making sure that people with dementia are better understood, included and respected here and all over the world.”

Alzheimer’s Society’s international partner, Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), has released the World Alzheimer’s Report 2019: Attitudes to dementia.

The report shows that in the UK, two in five (39 per cent) of healthcare practitioners agree that physicians and nurses ignore people with dementia and that over two thirds (67 per cent) of people believe that people with dementia are impulsive and unpredictable. Only 53.3 per cent of healthcare practitioners surveyed agreed that there are competent healthcare practitioners for the diagnosis and treatment of people living with dementia.