Today, 55 million people around the world are living with dementia. This number is predicted to nearly triple by 2050 – reaching almost 140 million. 

But, despite how common the condition is, there is still a lot of confusion around what dementia actually is. Separating fact from fiction helps people make informed choices, understand a diagnosis, and find the right support. 

Is dementia a disease?

Dementia is not a disease itself. It is a word used to describe a set of symptoms caused by diseases that damage the brain. These symptoms can include memory loss, mood changes, and communication difficulties. 

People sometimes use the terms “Alzheimer’s” and “dementia” as if they mean the same thing, but they don’t. Dementia is the overall term, and Alzheimer’s disease is one cause of it. Other common causes include vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Researchers are working to better understand these different diseases. For example, one study is comparing dementia with Lewy bodies, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease dementia. The aim is to improve how these dementia types are diagnosed and understood. 

Do only older people get dementia?

Although age is the biggest risk factor for dementia, it can also affect younger people. 

Most people diagnosed are over 65. In the UK, around 1 in 11 people over 65 live with dementia. But dementia is not a normal part of getting older. 

In fact, around 70,800 people in the UK are living with young onset dementia. This is where symptoms begin before the age of 65. 

Some types of young onset dementia are caused by faulty genes, which are directly inherited from a parent who has the disease at a young age too. 

However, these cases are rare and most cases of young onset dementia are caused by a mixture of risk factors, including underlying health conditions and lifestyle factors.

The early signs of dementia can look different in younger people. When dementia develops in older adults, short-term memory loss is often an early symptom. However, in young onset dementia, other symptoms can appear first. These symptoms can include:

  • Confusion
  • Thinking problems
  • Difficulties with language, 
  • Movement problems 
  • Changes in vision 
  • Low mood or agitation. 

People with young onset dementia are often still working, raising families and managing other responsibilities. As such, young onset dementia can impact areas like employment, finances, and social life.

Is dementia a mental illness?

Dementia is not a mental illness. It is caused by physical changes and progressive damage to the brain. This leads to symptoms such as memory loss, difficulties with thinking and changes in behaviour. 

Although some symptoms, like mood changes and confusion, may resemble mental health disorders, the underlying cause of dementia is biological, not psychological. It happens because brain cells become physically damaged over time.

Is there a cure for dementia?

Although there isn’t currently a cure for dementia, some medications can help someone manage their symptoms for a period of time. 

Medications currently available on the NHS are known as symptomatic treatments. They don’t slow the diseases that cause dementia, but they can help with memory, thinking and daily activities. For some people, this means they can stay independent for longer than if they weren’t taking these medicines.

Complementary therapies, like lifestyle adjustments, cognitive stimulation, and therapy, may also help a person with dementia manage their symptoms. 

Two newer medicines – lecanemab and donanemab – work differently. Clinical trials have shown that they can slow the progression of early Alzheimer’s disease by a few months by targeting some of the underlying disease processes. These drugs are licensed in the UK, but at the moment they are only available in some private clinics or through research studies.

While these treatments do not cure dementia, they mark an important turning point. For the first time, we have medicines that can slow early Alzheimer’s disease, even if only by a small amount. 

This shows that changing the course of the disease is possible. What researchers learn from these drugs will help improve future treatments, make them safer, and help them work better for more people.

These early steps give hope. They help build the knowledge needed so that future generations can benefit from stronger, more effective treatments – and bring us closer to the day when we may be able to stop the diseases that cause dementia.

That’s why ongoing research into new treatments is more important than ever.  

For example, 1 study is currently testing an experimental drug called remternetug. The study is investigating whether this treatment can slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s  in people who carry genetic mutations linked to the disease. 

Taking part in research studies is vital to help scientists understand dementia better and find safe and effective treatments.

How can I take part in dementia research?

Join Dementia Research is a UK-wide service where you can register your interest in taking part in vital dementia research studies. 

When you sign up, the information you provide is used to match you to studies. You can take part in studies online, in your local area and nationally. The service connects volunteers with dementia researchers across the UK. 

Signing up doesn’t commit you to take part in anything. It simply gives you the chance to hear about studies you might be eligible for and decide what feels right for you.

After registering, you can log in at any time to review your study matches and choose whether to get involved.

By getting involved, you can help make a difference to the future of dementia prevention, diagnosis and treatment and care.