Despite 55 million people worldwide living with dementia, a new study reveals that most people still lack a clear understanding of the condition.

Dementia is now the seventh leading cause of death globally and the leading cause of death in the United Kingdom. Currently, over 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia, a number expected to rise to 78 million by 2030. On average, someone develops the condition every three seconds.

Despite its prevalence, many people living with dementia still face significant stigma and discrimination due to widespread misconceptions and a lack of understanding about what dementia actually is.

World Alzheimer Report 2024

Today, Alzheimer’s Disease International published the 2024 World Alzheimer Report: Global Changes in Attitudes to Dementia. This report presents findings from our recent survey of over 40,000 people, including those living with dementia, caregivers, healthcare practitioners and members of the general public across 166 countries and territories. The results were both enlightening and concerning.

The report reveals that 65% of healthcare practitioners and 80% of the general public mistakenly consider dementia to be a normal part of ageing. Even more troubling, between 29% (in high-income countries) and 32% (in low and middle-income countries) believe that people living with dementia are dangerous more often than not. Furthermore, 64% of respondents viewed people with dementia as impulsive and unpredictable.

Due to the fear of stigma, 29% of those
living with the condition avoid or
discontinue close personal relationships.

Stigma impacts dementia patients and caregivers

These misconceptions have real-world consequences. A concerning 88% of people living with dementia report experiencing discrimination. Due to the fear of stigma, 29% of those living with the condition avoid or discontinue close personal relationships, and 31% steer clear of social situations because they worry about others’ reactions.

Caregivers are also significantly impacted. Around 43% have stopped inviting friends over out of concern for how they might treat their loved one, and almost half have declined invitations to visit friends or family.

Make an impact on World Alzheimer’s Month

Each September, Alzheimer’s Disease International organises the global awareness campaign, World Alzheimer’s Month. The theme for 2024 is #TimeToActOnDementia and #TimeToActOnAlzheimers, focused on addressing the stigma and misunderstanding that is clearly so prevalent.

Throughout the month, we encourage everyone to take action to improve dementia awareness worldwide — whether on social media, through memory walks or simply in daily conversations. Together, we can make a difference.

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Socks fitted with AI technology can help carers recognise early signs of distress in people living with dementia so that appropriate calming interventions can be made.

A family crisis prompted Dr Zeke Steer to create an innovative wearable technology that detects distress in people living with dementia.

AI socks to detect distress early

“My great-grandmother was diagnosed with dementia,” he says. “Her aggressive and agitated behaviour became very challenging and my family were eventually left with no option but to place her in a care home.”

This agitation and aggression were the result of pain, anxiety and confusion linked to the dementia. A particular challenge for caregivers is recognising signs of distress — especially in people with communication difficulties — before they manifest into something more serious.

Dr Steer’s research at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory led to the design of AI-enabled socks fitted with sensors that measure pulse, temperature, sweat and motion. Caregivers are alerted to the wearer’s distress, enabling timely care interventions.

In care home trials, people living
with dementia found SmartSocks
to be comfortable and familiar.

Sensors pick up stress signals from sweat glands

Socks might not be the most obvious wearable dementia technology, but there are reasons they work well. “In care home trials, people living with dementia found SmartSocks to be comfortable and familiar. In contrast, wrist-worn devices can be intrusive and add to distress, leading to their removal,” says Dr Steer. “There’s also a biological reason for favouring socks over a wristband. One of our sensors measures a sweat response called electrodermal activity. The soles of the feet have among the highest densities of sweat glands on the body.”

Dr Steer is founder and CEO of digital health company Milbotix. Milbotix is funded by Alzheimer’s Society through the Accelerator programme, with UK Dementia Research Institute among its collaborators. The socks are intended for use by families, domiciliary carers and care home staff and are now in care home trials.

“Following the painful experience with my great grandmother, I’d like to see SmartSocks helping people living with dementia thrive in whatever place they call home. The next version of the product will measure vital signs, track digital biomarkers of disease and help prevent falls,” says Dr Steer.

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Dementia is the greatest challenge currently faced by our health and social care system. It is the UK’s biggest killer, costing our economy £42 billion this year (Alzheimer’s Society, 2024).

Dementia affects every part of the system, from primary care to hospital and hospice care. People living with dementia are also the largest users of social care. 

Addressing dementia challenges to help NHS

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting says the NHS is ‘broken.’ By understanding the challenges posed by dementia, Ministers can understand the challenges faced by the entire system — and how to address them. 

Without action, the cost of dementia will be £90 billion annually by 2040. We must think and act differently on a condition that has been under-prioritised for decades. 

Diagnosis for dementia cost-efficiency

The cornerstone of any plan to address dementia must start with diagnosis. As Lord Darzi said when launching his new investigation into the NHS: “As every clinician and patient knows, the first step to addressing any health problem is a proper diagnosis.” 

As the disease progresses, total costs increase significantly, from £29,000 per year for mild dementia to £81,000 for severe dementia. Getting a diagnosis eases system pressure and cost. Existing treatments to manage symptoms are effective at reducing stressful and costly crisis points. Yet, only 1.4% of total dementia healthcare costs are spent on diagnosis and treatments. That doesn’t make sense for a system so clearly stretched. 

Just 1% of people living with dementia told
us they saw no benefit in getting a diagnosis.

Diagnosis essential for care access

Just 1% of people living with dementia told us they saw no benefit in getting a diagnosis. Yet, over a third of people living with dementia in England and Northern Ireland never get a diagnosis. In Wales, around half do not.  

Only a diagnosis can unlock access to care, support and treatments. People are less likely to escalate into a crisis, such as an unplanned hospital or A&E admission or a last-minute search for a care home place. Without an early and accurate diagnosis, people with Alzheimer’s disease will never be able to access treatments we hope will be part of a more hopeful future. 

Prioritise dementia for budget impact

More ambitious diagnosis targets and greater investment in diagnostics, including getting ready for new treatments and blood tests for dementia are key to reducing the devastating personal impact of dementia and the immense cost and pressures it brings to the NHS and social care system. The Government would do well to prioritise dementia as it prepares for the budget in October. 

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The new health secretary has claimed the NHS is broken. Dementia care is the perfect place to start the job of fixing it.

When Wes Streeting arrived in Whitehall as the new Secretary of State for Health and Care, his first speech stated that “the NHS is broken.” For dementia care, we should ask whether our health and social care systems were ever truly working in the first place.

Dementia care remains inadequate

Despite incredible work by dedicated health and care professionals, including Dementia UK’s specialist dementia Admiral Nurses, people often miss out on vital care needed to manage dementia’s complex challenges.

The number of people living with dementia is set to exceed 1 million within the first year of this Government. With no cure and a lack of support in place, many will find themselves left to cope with the devastating effects of dementia alone. As our population ages, it will be the defining health and social care challenge of our time. 

The number of people living with
dementia is set to exceed 1 million
within the first year of this Government.

Where to start in fixing dementia care

Despite some positive progress and well-intentioned announcements over the years, the wholesale strategic approach to dementia care required has slipped between the cracks of government agendas for too long. With enough political will, Dementia UK believes this parliament can be the one that fixes dementia care.

Whether addressing barriers to vital care funding, recognising that dementia is a complex condition that needs specialist support or supporting the one in four people in hospital beds who are living with dementia, we’ve worked with people affected by dementia and our specialist nurses to identify where to start:

• Improve support at the point of diagnosis by increasing access to vital health reviews and specialist dementia nurses.
• Review NHS continuing healthcare funding to recognise the impact of dementia as a complex and long-term condition.
• Increase the number of dementia specialist Admiral Nurses in hospital settings to improve health outcomes and reduce hospital stays for people with dementia.
• Create a new pathway of age-appropriate support for people living with young-onset dementia, where symptoms occur before the age of 65.

Moving dementia up the agenda

Streeting’s speech concluded with: “It will take time; we never pretended that the NHS could be fixed overnight.” We agree, however, the one in two of us who will be affected by dementia in our lifetime cannot afford to wait to take the first steps. The Government has a unique chance to transform dementia care. If they want to fix a broken NHS, dementia care is the perfect place to start.

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Learn how promoting lifelong brain health could be a game-changer for dementia prevention.

There are various things we can do throughout life to protect our brain health — and it’s never too early or too late to start. The World Health Organization has suggested that up to 40% of dementia cases globally could be preventable, but many things need to change for that to be achieved. By taking steps to protect brain health now, we may reduce the risk of developing dementia in the future.

Dementia prevention in action

Alzheimer Scotland launched Brain Health Scotland in 2020 — the start of a movement to highlight the potential of dementia prevention. Its goal is to promote lifelong brain health and create a legacy of long-term dementia prevention strategies. By reaching out as early as possible to our schools and wider communities, we can actively engage with the public and target people known to be at risk of brain diseases.

There are many steps we can take to
safeguard our brain health and delay
or prevent certain types of dementia.

Positive steps to protect brain health

There are some pre-determined aspects, such as age and genetic characteristics, that may put us at increased risk. However, there are many steps we can take to safeguard our brain health and delay or prevent certain types of dementia. These include:

• Regular exercise
• Staying connected with other people
• Reducing risks such as alcohol and smoking
• Managing stress
• Keeping on top of existing medical conditions (eg. diabetes, high blood pressure)

Tool for tailored brain health tips

We developed an interactive online quiz called ‘My Brain Health Plan’. It walks users through a series of questions about their lifestyle and habits, generating evidence-based suggestions and personalised tips.

Empowering people to protect brain health

In 2023, we opened the UK’s first walk-in Brain Health Service and Clinic within our Brain Health and Dementia Resource Centre in Aberdeen. A multi-agency project between the Scottish Government, NHS Grampian and Alzheimer Scotland, this dedicated space enables people to recognise their risk of diseases that can lead to dementia. Making small changes now can pave the way for significant improvements in the future.

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There’s no way to sugarcoat it – dementia devastates lives. One in three people born in the UK today will get dementia, and it’s the UK’s biggest killer.

There are currently 900,000 people living with the condition, and that number is set to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.

Dementia care crisis

Dementia diagnosis rates hit a five-year low during the pandemic and have stagnated ever since, leaving tens of thousands of people unable to access the support they need.

There are currently no treatments available to slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia. This is causing immense stress and anxiety for family carers, who are often the primary caregivers for people with dementia. It is no wonder that people over 50 say that dementia is the condition they are most concerned about.

Tackling dementia head-on

The picture of dementia may seem bleak, but we cannot bury our heads in the sand. This colossal challenge will not go away on its own. We must make dementia a priority and tackle it head-on. We need to get everyone talking about this major health issue.

Alzheimer’s Society is at the forefront of this fight. We are making progress and believe we are on the cusp of better outcomes for people affected by dementia. We need to continue to invest in research, raise awareness, and provide support to those affected. Together, we can make a difference.

The Government has recognised the scale of the dementia problem and has included it in its Major Conditions Strategy.

Government action

The Government has recognised the scale of the dementia problem and has included it in its Major Conditions Strategy. Alzheimer’s Society is working with policymakers to ensure that the plans are ambitious and that people living with dementia have a voice.

Thanks to a £5 million award from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, Alzheimer’s Society, along with Alzheimer’s Research UK and the NIHR, have launched the Blood Biomarker Challenge. This will gather the information needed to introduce a blood test for dementia into UK healthcare systems. A blood test would be a crucial step in speeding up diagnosis and early intervention.

Hope for Alzheimer’s patients

After 20 years without any new Alzheimer’s disease drugs approved in the UK, two potential drugs, lecanemab and donanemab, have shown promise in slowing the progression of the disease. These drugs work by targeting amyloid plaques, which are thought to be a key factor in Alzheimer’s development. If approved, these drugs could represent a breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer’s. We vow not to rest until we have a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

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Approximately 55.6 million cases of dementia globally could be delayed or reduced. Alzheimer’s Disease International describes ways to reduce your risk of developing dementia through its World Alzheimer Report.

Dementia is now the 7th leading cause of death globally and the leading cause of death in the United Kingdom. Globally, 55 million people are living with the condition, a number set to increase to 139 million by 2050. This broadly translates to one person developing the condition every 3 seconds.

Increasing evidence is suggesting that by addressing 12 common risk factors, up to 40% of the cases of dementia could be delayed or prevented equating to 55.6 million cases globally by 2050. This is by no means insignificant. Through increased awareness, it is possible for everyone to have an impact and potentially delay or reduce their chances of developing the condition. Of course, governments must play their part too.

World Alzheimer’s month 

Every September, Alzheimer’s Disease International and its global federation of over 120 members, organise the global awareness raising campaign, World Alzheimer’s Month. This year’s campaign aims to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma and discrimination which still surrounds the condition, with a key focus on the often small lifestyle changes that can have a significant impact on living longer, healthy lives.

Governments and policy makers must
do more to protect their constituents.

World Alzheimer Report 2023 

While knowing the risk factors for dementia is important, the broader question remains on what tangible steps can be taken to reduce risk. While there is no magic bullet for dementia, there are steps that individuals can take to reduce their risk, including slowing down condition progression, following a diagnosis. 

Evidence from the World Alzheimer Report 2023 has shown that exercise such as walking, bike riding, even dancing can help to reduce your risk of developing dementia. Just as it is important to maintain physical health, both social and mental stimulation are other ways we can reduce risk, including by maintaining social connections, learning a new language or challenging yourself with crosswords. 

From a public health perspective, there are active ways in which governments must intervene with risk-reduction strategies. Increasing evidence suggests that providing hearing aids, for those with hearing loss, is a cost-effective measure to reduce a person’s risk of developing dementia. Other risk factors such as air pollution and low education are less simple to tackle, and governments and policymakers must do more to protect their constituents. 

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Caring for a loved one who has dementia can cause financial hardship. However, there is support available that may help.

Managing the current cost of living crisis is especially difficult for unpaid carers supporting loved ones. Carers UK research reveals that one in six unpaid carers are in debt because of caring; the proportion unable to afford their utility bills has doubled in a year. 

Increasing costs of being a carer  

Carers often have heightened expenses as a result of their caring role. For example, increased heating bills to keep a relative with dementia warm and safe or transport costs taking them to medical appointments.  

Those who care for family members with dementia may also face expenses related to nutrition and supporting the person they care for to maintain a healthy weight. Often caring for many hours — sometimes around the clock — some find it difficult to stay in paid work. In the UK, 600 people a day leave the workforce to care. Given the pressures, it’s essential that carers know where to look for support when it’s available.  

While rewarding, caring for a family member with
dementia can be physically and emotionally draining.

Where carers can find support 

Carers Week 2023 research revealed that 73% of those who have provided unpaid care did not identify themselves as carers. This means carers may not be claiming relevant benefits or receiving the right support. 

Carers may be eligible for benefits such as Carer’s Allowance for themselves; Attendance Allowance on behalf of the person they care for; Carer’s Credit to count towards their pension; or other types of support.  

A Carer’s assessment by the local authority could help a family member supporting a relative with dementia identify practical support for them, looking at the impact caring has on their life and what support or services they could benefit from. 

Ways to balance life and caring 

While rewarding, caring for a family member with dementia can be physically and emotionally draining. Breaks are essential to prevent carer burnout and enable carers to be able to fulfil their caring duties safely. It’s also important that carers, where possible, try to dedicate some time to looking after their own wellbeing — whether that’s getting out for some fresh air or reading a book. 

It’s worth carers in employment checking whether their employer has carer-friendly policies in place to help them manage work and care, including flexible working. Employees in the UK are set to benefit from The Carers Leave Act which, when in force, will provide a statutory right to up to five days of unpaid carer’s leave.  

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Dr Kate Turner

Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, University of Plymouth

Dr Alison Warren

Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, University of Plymouth

Air travel can be a problematic experience for people living with dementia. A new research-informed booklet outlines the barriers they face — and how to overcome them.

“People with dementia want to continue living life, their way, for as long as possible,” explains Ian Sherriff, BEM, Academic Partnership Lead for Dementia, University of Plymouth. “That’s why issues, such as accessible air travel, have become ever more important.” 

Air travel challenges for people with dementia 

Unfortunately, for some people with dementia, their experience of airports and air travel can be so unpleasant that they, and their carers, vow never to fly again. But now, a new research-informed document aims to change that.  

‘Improving the Accessibility of UK Air Travel for Passengers with Dementia and Other Non-Visible Disabilities,’ was produced by Sherriff and occupational therapists Dr Kate Turner and Dr Alison Warren from the University of Plymouth — outlining the challenges that people with hidden disabilities may face when flying. These include being publicly embarrassed and disrespected; being offered a generic wheelchair service for assistance; and struggling to interpret signage. 

Travel experiences can be ruined because a
person’s condition has not been understood.

Better staff education and awareness 

As Chair of Prime Minister’s Dementia Air Transport Group (PMDATG), Sherriff has collaborated with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the aviation industry, researchers and people with dementia to introduce guidelines — now implemented by all UK airports and airlines — for assisting passengers with hidden disabilities. 

The document builds on the work of PMDATG and covers five areas: poor societal expectations; individual rights; physical barriers; aviation staff unawareness; actively including people living with dementia. It also includes positive steps that can improve air travel accessibility.  

Travel experiences can be ruined because a person’s condition has not been understood by airport workers and cabin crew. “Aviation staff may question if someone with dementia is even able to board an aeroplane,” says Sherriff. “The answer: yes, they can — and they have the absolute right to do so. It’s a matter of understanding their needs to make their experience a positive one.” 

There is evidence that the research has made a difference. “This work made the impossible possible,” insists Dorothy Tudor, former carer of a person living with dementia. “We started flying to our holiday destinations again.” 

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Professor Mohamed Seghier

Director, University’s Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center, Khalifa University

People with dementia could be supported to live more independently for longer with their condition, with the help of an innovative pair of smart glasses.

A team from Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi has designed unique intelligent modular adaptive glasses with high interoperability and comfort (iMAGIC) for people with dementia. They have sensors, a recognition system for familiar faces and objects, a fall detection system and alerts and reminder functions. They can also monitor vital signs including heart rate, body temperature and sleep patterns. 

Hands-free solution for dementia 

iMAGIC was recently named a semi-finalist Discovery Award winner for the coveted Longitude Prize on Dementia. Project leader Professor Mohamed Seghier, Director of the university’s Healthcare Engineering Innovation Centre, says: “People living with dementia can struggle with their environment, so we wanted to create something familiar and hands-free to help them.”

The glasses combine different modules and functionalities with a camera for navigation. It can recognise faces and objects and has sensors that can detect falls and alert caregivers or families. “The glasses can be adapted, depending on the stage of dementia an individual is at,” he adds. “Someone with early signs may be able to live independently compared to someone at a higher stage of dementia where more support is needed.” 

Benefits of the smart glasses 

Professor Leontios Hadjileontiadis, Chair of the university’s Biomedical Engineering Department, explains that the smart glasses also work when the user is not wearing them. “Even when a person is sleeping, the glasses are awake and provide information about temperature, weather, pollution and aspects that relate to the environment someone is living in,” he explains. 

The glasses use algorithms to recognise the faces of family members and friends, as well as objects in the user’s environment. It relays that information in a display before their eyes or orally via a headset. They also have a reminder system, such as when to take medication or contact a caregiver. He adds that the glasses demand very little from the user but provide a lot of benefits. 

The glasses use algorithms to recognise the
faces of family members and friends, as
well as objects in the user’s environment.

Helping people with dementia socially 

Physiological data, collected via sensors around the ear, can be directed to physicians and can identify possible falls. The glasses are a familiar item that a dementia patient could wear naturally. Yet, it reminds wearers of who they are with and where they are while providing important social context.

“It means people with dementia are not isolated but can communicate with people because they use this technology to assist them in their social expression. So, socially and physically, it helps them to keep their quality of life,” says Hadjileontiadis. 

Next stage of technology 

The Longitude Prize, funded by the Alzheimer’s Society and UK innovation agency Innovate UK, aims to encourage the development of technologies that can help people with dementia retain their independence. 

The Discovery Award has given the Khalifa University team an £80,000 grant to design and develop their solution and submit the technology to the next stage of the prize in 2024. 

Going forward, the prototype smart glasses will be tested on people living with dementia in the UAE; and their feedback will be incorporated into the design. 

Retaining independence for longer 

The university team — which also includes Dr Aamna AlShehhi, Dr Naoufel Werghi, Dr Hamdan Hamdan and Rayyah Alkhanjari — wants to work with external companies and investors to further develop the smart glasses. 

With an estimated 46.8 million people living with dementia worldwide, and this number predicted to double every 20 years, Seghier says it is crucial to find solutions that can help them live independently for longer. “Our main motivation was to develop a hands-free assistive device to make a difference in the lives of people with dementia. On a more personal note, some team members have relatives who are already living with dementia, and this was another driver to start this project.” 

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