Closing the dementia awareness gap

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The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that 982,000 people in the UK live with dementia, a stark figure they expect to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. Addressing 14 modifiable risk factors would prevent almost half (45.3%) of dementia cases worldwide. These are poor education; hearing loss; hypertension; smoking; obesity; depression; physical inactivity; diabetes; excessive alcohol consumption; traumatic brain injury; air pollution; social isolation; untreated visual loss; and high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.¹

However, Closing the Dementia Awareness Gap, a new report from Alzheimer’s Research UK, found that “public awareness of dementia and the role these modifiable risk factors play in protecting brain health remains low”. Indeed, just 8% of UK adults strongly agree that reducing dementia risk is possible. As the report remarks, many people are “unaware of how everyday choices can influence dementia risk”.

Action needed

Alzheimer’s Research UK has called on the Government to “commission a national dementia risk reduction campaign, delivered by the NHS”.

The report notes that community and religious leaders can help ensure brain health messages reach marginalised groups. A new analysis of data from 3,500 adults collected in two surveys conducted during 2023 by Alzheimer’s Research UK found that compared with white people, South Asian and black participants had significantly lower knowledge about dementia. Black people also had lower knowledge of dementia risk factors than white participants.²

The Government’s campaign should include “simple, actionable steps” based on the shared benefits for brain, heart and metabolic health, and align with and build on interventions “such as the NHS Health Check, and in the long-term embed brain-health messaging within emerging Neighbourhood Health Centres.”

“The NHS England secondary prevention programme covers diabetes, respiratory and cardiovascular health. Adding a focus on preventing or delaying onset of dementia to this programme could be beneficial,” the paper comments.² After all, many risk factors and interventions are the same. “The key message is that what is good for your heart is generally good for your brain,” says Emma Taylor, senior information officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Community pharmacists’ role

Pharmacists can support the 84% of UK adults who expressed interest in reducing their dementia risk. “Community pharmacists play an important role in promoting brain health because they are often one of the most accessible healthcare professionals in the community. Simple conversations about brain health, alongside signposting people to services such as blood pressure checks, cholesterol testing, hearing assessments and smoking cessation support, can help raise awareness of the factors linked to dementia risk,” Taylor says.

“Pharmacies can provide trusted, evidence-based information and resources, helping people understand that looking after their brain health is something everyone can do throughout their lives. Alzheimer’s Research UK’s ‘The quick guide to dementia’ and leaflets on ‘Diagnosis’ and ‘Risk and brain health’, are ideal for pharmacy countertops,” Taylor comments.

“Pharmacists may be among the first professionals to notice changes that could warrant further investigation. While a single incident is not necessarily cause for concern, persistent changes in memory, thinking, mood or behaviour may indicate that someone would benefit from speaking to their GP for further assessment and support,” Taylor says.

“Managing blood pressure, cholesterol and weight, staying physically active, not smoking, drinking alcohol within recommended limits and addressing hearing loss can all support long-term brain health and may help reduce the risk of dementia,” Taylor concludes. “Community pharmacists can reinforce practical, evidence-based messages and encourage people to use Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Think Brain Health Check-in, a free online tool that provides personalised actions to help support brain health.”

References
1. Lancet 2024;404:572-628
2. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2026;41:e70238