UK survey finds only one in three know dementia risk reductions

A poll of 2,000 UK adults commissioned by the Daily Mail and the Alzheimer's Society reveals that just 33 % recognise that lifestyle changes can lower the risk of developing dementia, even though 59 % say they worry about a diagnosis and 43 % regularly monitor for symptoms. Half of respondents know someone with dementia, and 56 % say the Covid‑19 pandemic made them more health‑aware. Only 11 % correctly identified dementia as the UK’s leading cause of death, while 41 % mistakenly named cancer. Dementia claims about 76,000 lives each year and is projected to affect over one million people by 2030, with one in three newborns expected to develop it in their lifetime. Research suggests roughly half of cases could be prevented by addressing 14 risk factors, yet only 32 % believe this is possible. Awareness of specific risks varies: many cite head injury, alcohol, isolation, smoking, inactivity and depression, but fewer recognize poor education, vision or hearing loss, air pollution, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. Misconceptions also persist, linking dementia to sleep loss, chemicals, vitamins, dehydration, aluminium and dental hygiene. Most respondents would want an early warning to plan care, finances, health improvements and travel, though many underestimate care costs, with only 11 % estimating £20,000 per year and 39 % unsure. Michelle Dyson, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, emphasised the need for public education about preventable risk factors.