Here are some things we do know:
- The illnesses that cause dementia don’t spread from person to person. You don’t have to worry about ‘catching’ dementia from someone else.
- Not all older people get dementia. The younger a person is, the less likely they are to have dementia.
- Most people who have dementia become ill when they are older, in their 70s, 80s or 90s.
- Sometimes a person who is younger than 65 gets dementia, but this is less common. It is called young-onset dementia.
- Around 1 million people in the UK are living with dementia.
- Researchers are working hard to find our more about dementia and to find new treatments.
Find out more below:
- What is dementia?
- Which illnesses cause dementia?
- Who gets dementia?
- Will I get dementia?
- What happens to someone with dementia?
- Why do people with dementia change so much?
- Why do simple things become difficult for people with dementia?
- What does it feel like to have dementia?
- Can a person with dementia get better?
- What can I do?
- What if things go wrong?
- How can I cope with my feelings?
- Tell us what you think
This information was updated in November 2021 and is due for review in November 2023. Please contact us if you would like a version with references.