Let’s talk Dementia campaign reveals lack of awareness around dementia and impact on society
New research carried out by pharmaceutical firm Luye Pharma as part of its ‘Let’s talk Dementia’ campaign has revealed a lack of understanding around dementia and the impact it has on society.
In a survey of 1,000 people, although 43 per cent of those questioned said they knew someone with dementia, 50 per cent were unaware that it can be treated and 47 per cent did not know the correct cause of dementia (damage to nerve cells to the brain), with some wrongly thinking it is a natural part of ageing (15%) or is hereditary (11%).
The ‘Let’s talk Dementia’ campaign was established 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. According to NHS figures, 87 per cent 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.
Six out of 10 incorrectly think that dementia care, such as a care home, is paid for by the NHS or a charity and 92 per cent don’t know that dementia costs the UK £42 billion annually.
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.”
There are currently more than 944,000 people in the UK who have dementia and one in 11 people over the age of 65 have the condition, according to the NHS. It is estimated that up to 1.7 million people could be living with dementia in England and Wales by 2040.
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.
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) with 57 per cent thinking that there is not enough information and 22 per cent are unsure.
In recent news, a report by Share and Care Homeshare found that dementia and limited mobility were driving factors in homeshare arrangements.
