When somebody you know is very ill, it can make you worry that you (or someone else in your family) might become ill too.
Lots of different things lead to someone getting dementia. This means that it’s we can't know exactly who will get dementia in the future.
Having a family member with one of the illnesses that cause dementia does not mean that you will get dementia when you are older too.
Some very rare, types of dementia are genetic. This means that they can be passed down from one family member to another. People can only have this kind of dementia if their mum or dad had it. Only a very small number of people have these kinds of dementia, and not everyone in their family will get it.
If you are worried about dementia, the best people to ask are the doctors or nurses caring for your loved one.
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.