AROUND a quarter of Brits over 40 can’t name a single habit or health condition that may increase the risk of developing dementia, research suggests.

The lack of awareness is depriving millions of people of the chance to take simple steps to protect their brain health, the Alzheimer’s Society warned.

It is estimated that there are around 982,000 people with dementia in the UK Credit: Getty

It is estimated that there are around 982,000 people with dementia in the UK, although a third do not have a formal diagnosis.

The figure is expected to soar to 1.4 million by 2040.

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Lifestyle habits that are known to increase the risk of developing dementia include high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, lack of exercise and drinking too much alcohol, along with conditions such as hearing loss, depression and type 2 diabetes.

However, the poll of 1,393 people in the UK, conducted on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Society, found that 26 per cent could not name a single one of these risk factors.

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Fewer than a third (32 per cent) knew that high blood pressure can increase dementia risk, while 24 per cent identified high cholesterol as a risk.

Meanwhile, just one in five (21 per cent) were aware of growing evidence that 45 per cent of dementia cases may be linked to factors that can be prevented or treated.

Michelle Dyson, chief executive at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “These new findings show that many people are not aware of the factors they can influence to help reduce their risk of developing dementia, the UK’s biggest killer.

“As a result, millions of people are missing the chance to take simple steps today that could help protect their brain health tomorrow, from getting their hearing checked to managing their blood pressure.”

The survey found over-40s could be living with potential risk factors.

Four in 10 told the poll their hearing had worsened in the last five years, while only a third had had their hearing checked in that time.

Ms Dyson added: “By helping people to understand their risks and the actions they can take, we have a meaningful opportunity to reduce the number of people affected by dementia in the future.”

Professor Ian Maidment, a professor in clinical pharmacy at Aston University, said: “Many people understandably live in fear of dementia.

“But there are many things that we can do to reduce the risk of dementia including exercise, not smoking, alcohol in moderation and managing diseases such as high blood pressure and a raised cholesterol.

“The key message is: what is good for the heart is good for the head. This message needs to be communicated in accessible ways to a diverse audience; social media has a key role.”

For people who experienced multiple falls, the risk increased to 74 per cent

The early stages of dementia

DEMENTIA is not a single condition. It is caused by different physical diseases of the brain – like Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia and DLB.
More than 944,000 people in the UK currently have it. And no matter the type, it affects everyone differently.
The first signs of it are often mild and easy to brush off, but can include:

Memory problems (e.g. being unable to recall recent events or losing keys)
Planning and thinking difficulties (e.g. finding complex decisions about finances hard)
Language and communication trouble (e.g. struggling to find the right word)
Poor orientation (e.g. getting lost easily in familiar areas)
Visual-perceptual difficulties (e.g. problems judging distances)
Changes in mood or emotion (e.g. feeling anxious or frightened or getting easily upset)

“Many people at the early stage of dementia stay largely independent and only need a bit of assistance with daily living,” Alzheimer’s UK says.
“It is important to focus on what the person can do and not to take over and do things for them.
“Instead, try doing things with them, for example helping the person develop a routine, reminder lists and prompts, and use technology.”
Because dementia is progressive, it gets worse over time, usually over several years. Experts generally think of it in three stages:

Early stage (mild)
Middle stage (moderate)
Late stage (severe)

“These stages can be used to understand how dementia is likely to change over time, and to help people prepare for the future,” the charity adds.
“The stages also act as a guide to when certain treatments, such as medicines for Alzheimer’s disease, are likely to work best.”
Most people who develop dementia are over the age of 65. Anyone diagnosed before this is considered to have young-onset dementia, which affects about 70,800 people in the UK. 

In 2024, a landmark Lancet Commission Report, found that nearly half of all dementia cases could be avoided by adopting a healthier lifestyle and addressing some common health conditions.

These included high cholesterol, vision loss, smoking, depression, high blood pressure, impaired hearing, physical inactivity, excess alcohol intake and social isolation.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting around six in 10 patients.

It is thought to be caused by a build-up of amyloid and tau in the brain, which clump together and from plaques and tangles that make it harder for the brain to work properly.

Eventually, the brain struggles to cope with this damage and dementia symptoms develop.

Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which then worsen over time.

Another major cause of dementia is what is termed vascular dementia which is trigged by reduced blood flow to the brain which can occur as a result of a stroke.  

David Thomas, head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer’s Research UK, added: “These findings from the Alzheimer’s Society confirm what our own research found earlier this year – the UK has a dementia awareness gap, and too many people still see dementia as an inevitable part of ageing.

“The question is no longer whether awareness is too low – that’s been established.

“But what can be done to help people understand how to keep their brains healthy and reduce their risk of dementia.

“We are calling on the Government to introduce a national dementia risk reduction campaign delivered through the NHS, so people can access clear, evidence-based information about protecting their brain health.”