7 myths about dementia, debunked

In a lifetime, one in two of us will be affected by dementia – either by having it ourselves or caring for someone who does – so it’s vital that we have a good understanding of the reality of the condition

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, it’s estimated that around 982,000 people in the UK have dementia, with this number expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040 as our population continues to grow.

Yet, despite its prevalence, there are a number of myths and misconceptions about dementia that can stifle our understanding of the condition, cause spotting warning signs to become more difficult, and make the lives of those living with dementia harder.

So, here, we’re breaking down seven myths about dementia, and setting the record straight on the reality of the condition.

Myth 1: Dementia and Alzheimer’s are the same thing

Although sometimes used by people interchangeably, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are not the same thing. Dementia is an umbrella term for conditions associated with loss of memory and other cognitive impairments involving language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities that interfere with daily life.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia – with WHO estimating it contributes to 60–70% of dementia cases – and it affects people’s memory, thinking, and behaviour. But there are more than 200 subtypes of dementia, including vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease,to name a few.

Myth 2: Dementia is about memory loss

Memory loss is often the first thing people think of when considering the symptoms of dementia, but it is not the only one, and dementia can affect many different areas of health. Someone may find that they become slower in their movements, and become more clumsy. There may be personality changes and their mood could shift very quickly, and in the later stages, it can impact things like appetite and other areas of physical health.

Myth 3: Dementia is always caused by old age

Although age is currently the strongest known risk factor in developing dementia, it is not the only cause, with WHO estimating that young onset dementia (when symptoms appear before the age of 65) accounts for up to 9% of cases.

In some incidents, dementia can be caused by head trauma, as is the case with chronic traumatic encephalopathy dementia, which can happen following repeated head blows. Other causes of dementia can include substance abuse over a long period of time, nutritional deficiencies, and emotional problems.

Myth 4: Dementia is an inevitable part of getting older

Although, as noted, age is the strongest risk factor in developing dementia, it is not an inevitable part of growing older, or something that will affect everyone. Instead, dementia is something that can develop when the brain is damaged by disease or trauma.

In addition to age, other risk factors for dementia include depression, social isolation, cognitive inactivity, and even air pollution. There are also things that people can do to decrease their risk of developing dementia, including staying active, not smoking and cutting back on drinking alcohol, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.

Myth 5: Dementia affects men and women equally

Women have a higher risk of developing dementia than men – mostly due to the fact that women live longer than men, and old age is the greatest overall risk factor, but there could be other causes. Research into why this might be is still ongoing, but there are several lines of investigation, including the link between dementia and menopause, and oestrogen’s protective effects on brain health.

But, in addition to having an increased risk of developing dementia, women are more likely to be impacted by dementia in the form of additional care responsibilities. According to WHO, women provide 70% of care hours for people living with dementia. And, in its report on women’s unpaid dementia care, the Alzheimer’s Society highlighted the impact this can have on women’s paid work, and made the call to the government to increase carer’s leave provision.

Myth 6: Dementia is a mental illness

Dementia is not a mental illness, it is a term describing diseases that affect cognition. That said, some of the symptoms and behaviours share similarities with mental health problems. For example, hallucinations are common symptoms, and include visual hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there), auditory hallucinations (hearing things), olfactory hallucinations (smelling things), tactile hallucinations (feeling things), and gustatory hallucinations (tasting things).

Additionally, there is comorbidity between dementia and depression and anxiety –with a study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring finding that between 30% and 50% of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s experience symptoms consistent with depression, including mood changes, social withdrawal, apathy, or suicidal ideation.

Myth 7: There is no hope following a dementia diagnosis

While there is currently no cure for dementia, there are ways that it can be treated to help slow its progression, or to relieve symptoms. This includes medications, lifestyle changes, talking therapies, and other support services such as groups and specialists.

Work can also be done to support those with dementia in having the best quality of life possible. It may be helping them to engage in meaningful activities, music therapy, memory crafts, or just being there as a supportive, safe person in their life.

Every day, researchers around the world are working on new treatments and increasing our understanding of the condition. For example, in 2023, the Alzheimer’s Society won the bid for £5 million from the People’s Postcode Lottery Dream Fund, which has been used to fund research into blood biomarkers for dementia diagnosis –something that could transform the process in the future. New medications are being developed to help treat the symptoms, including donanemab, which could slow down memory and thinking decline in people living with the early stages of Alzheimer’s. So far, in results from the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 Phase 3 study, it has been found to slow clinical decline by 35% compared to placebo, and resulted in 40% less decline in the ability to perform activities of daily living.

For the millions of people affected by dementia, the pain that follows a diagnosis can be immense. Trials such as these offer some hope during a time when things feel hopeless, and are a sign that support and treatment can, and will, keep getting better.

For more information on dementia, as well as guidance on where to seek support, visit alzheimers.org.uk.