Will I get dementia?

Having a family member with dementia does not mean that you will get it when you are older too.

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.

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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.