Public attitudes towards dementia
The Dementia Attitudes Monitor gives detailed insight into the UK’s attitudes towards, and understanding of, dementia.
Findings from Wave 4 below build on Waves 1 (2018), 2 (2021) and 3 (2023) and are based on telephone interviews conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,333 adults in the United Kingdom ages 18+ between 2 and 29 April 2025.
More than half of us have been affected by dementia.
The Monitor reveals that more than half (54%) of the UK public know someone who has been diagnosed with the condition. This is most often a grandparent (22%) or parent (13%).
Wave 4 underlines the continued need to improve understanding of the diseases that cause dementia.
‘Dementia as an inevitable part of getting older’
Dementia is not a normal part of ageing but is caused by diseases, including Alzheimer’s, that affect the brain. The majority of people (66%) correctly disagree with the statement ‘dementia is an inevitable part of getting older’, but 19% agree and 15% neither agree nor disagree.
‘Dementia as a cause of death’
Dementia is the UK’s leading cause of death. Yet only 62% of the public recognise the terminal nature of the condition. Men are more likely to disagree with the statement ‘dementia is a cause of death’ than women (20% of men without a diagnosis, compared to 16% of women without a diagnosis).
Most people would feel comfortable telling others if they were diagnosed with the condition, but fear of dementia persists.
‘I would feel comfortable telling people about a dementia diagnosis’
59% of UK adults agree that they would feel comfortable telling people outside their close family if they were diagnosed with dementia.
‘Dementia is the health condition I fear most’
Half (50%) of UK adults say they fear developing dementia more than any other health condition. Older adults (59% of those aged 65 or over) and people who know someone who has been diagnosed with the condition (54%) are more likely to agree that dementia is the health condition they fear most. This is in line with the findings from 2021 and 2023.
Awareness of the ability to influence our risk, and understanding of the factors that shape it, remains low.
Health conditions people can reduce their risk of developing
The latest research suggests that nearly half (45%) of dementia cases worldwide are linked to factors we may be able to influence. Yet only 39% of UK adults think it’s possible for people to reduce their risk. This is up from 36% in 2023 and 33% in 2021.
Awareness of dementia risk factors
When asked to consider what could increase a person’s risk, the most common responses were ‘poor diet’ (25%) and ‘being less mentally active’ (25%). Following this was ‘genetic factors’ (22%) and ‘lack of exercise’ (20%). 23% responded with ‘don’t know’ – this is a smaller proportion than in 2023 (30%).
The majority of people want to better understand their personal risk of developing dementia.
‘Would want to know my risk of developing dementia’
Three quarters (75%) of UK adults say they would want to be told about their personal risk of developing dementia later in life if their doctor could provide this information (76% in 2023).
There is strong support for formal diagnosis and most people are open to doctors using new, innovative approaches.
‘Likely to seek a formal diagnosis’
The vast majority of people (88%) would be likely to seek a formal diagnosis if they were concerned they might be in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia.
The most common reasons given for doing so are that ‘It would allow me to access treatments that could help’ (31%), and ‘It would allow me to plan for my future’ (30%).
Attitudes to diagnostic tests
Most people would be willing to undergo more familiar and less invasive tests to help a doctor make an accurate diagnosis if they were concerned that they might be in the early stages of dementia. These include an eye test (94%) and a blood test (92%) – both of which are being explored as potential low-cost ways to detect the diseases that cause dementia in future.
As with previous waves of the Monitor, a much smaller proportion would be willing to undergo a lumbar puncture.
Finding a cure remains the UK’s top research priority.
Priorities for dementia research
When asked which type of dementia research is most important, 28% of the public selected research for a cure. In total, 43% chose it as either the most or second-most important thing.
There is understandable scepticism around treatments currently available, but most people are optimistic about the future.
‘How effective do you think current treatments are?’
49% of UK adults say that treatments currently available are not effective. Just 22% consider them to be effective and a significant proportion (29%) don’t know (the same as in 2023).
‘One day the diseases that cause dementia will be cured’
The majority of people (55%) believe that one day the diseases that cause dementia will be cured. 23% neither agree nor disagree with the statement. Encouragingly, just 16% disagree.
Those in the oldest age group (65 and over) were most likely to agree with this statement (63%), compared to 50% of 18-24-year-olds.
The majority of people would be willing to get involved in dementia research.
‘Willing to participate in medical research’
Nearly two thirds (64%) of UK adults would now consider actively participating in medical research for dementia. Looking just at those who know someone who has been diagnosed with the condition, 67% would be willing to get involved.
Explore the UK’s attitudes towards dementia and research in more detail in the Wave 4 Report.
