Dementia is not inevitable – a government-led campaign could reduce everyone's risk
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4 min read
“Prevention is better than cure” has become a familiar refrain from ministers, and shifting “from sickness to prevention” sits at the heart of the government’s ambition to future proof the NHS.
And there is one condition where a more proactive approach has the potential to make a huge difference – dementia.
Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK. It devastates families and costs the economy £42bn a year. Yet scientists now estimate that nearly half of dementia cases worldwide could be prevented or delayed by addressing known risk factors, many of which are lifestyle‑related, including physical inactivity, smoking and poor diet.
This evidence shows dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing; people can take action to protect their brain health and reduce their risk. And the public is hungry for information to do just that, according to new polling of 5,000 adults by Alzheimer’s Research UK and policy consultancy Public First.
Asked about their understanding of dementia prevention and how to improve it, more than 40 per cent of respondents told us they didn’t know it was even possible to reduce their risk of dementia, despite the science telling us otherwise.
The findings reveal people want to know more, with more than four in five (84 per cent) wanting to know how to cut their dementia risk. Similarly high numbers expect the government to take the lead – 79 per cent want to see a government-led campaign on the issue.
This represents a tremendous opportunity for the government to bring in positive change. While last year’s NHS 10 Year Health Plan acknowledged that dementia risk can be reduced, the government has stopped short of actively championing prevention.
Alzheimer’s Research UK is now urgently calling on the UK government to launch a clear, positive national dementia risk reduction campaign, delivered through the NHS. Our findings showed that people see doctors as the most credible sources of prevention advice – 81 per cent would listen to their GP, and 80 per cent would trust information from other NHS sources.
On asking what information would really hit home, we found a desire for positive, joined-up messaging about the practical steps people can take to cut their risk of dementia and other conditions, such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
While people don’t necessarily adopt new healthy habits overnight, we know prevention and lifestyle campaigns do work, and that NHS and government agencies know how to do them well – from Act FAST on stroke, through to Couch to 5k.
There are multiple actions the government can take now to amplify a dementia risk reduction campaign and embed it as part of wider healthcare transformation.
Only two per cent of people remember getting brain health information during NHS Health Checks, highlighting a clear opportunity to talk more about prevention. Prevention also needs to be central to the forthcoming NHS Modern Service Framework on dementia and frailty, and the emerging Neighbourhood Health Service will be brilliantly placed to communicate dementia risk reduction closer to home.
The NHS in England is now having to juggle a huge structural reorganisation alongside its perennial funding pressures and the spiralling healthcare demands of an ageing population. Admittedly, a dedicated dementia risk reduction campaign would take some extra effort, but the NHS has the expertise and infrastructure to make it happen. Long-term, fewer cases of dementia will benefit the health service as much as it will benefit individuals.
Our new report Closing the dementia awareness gap outlines the foundations and potential packaging of a campaign that gives government a real opportunity to boost the nation’s health and reduce inequalities. A dementia risk reduction campaign would make real inroads into ending the heartbreak caused by dementia, and help to relieve the massive burden the condition places on the economy and NHS. Crucially, it’s something the public overwhelmingly want.
David Thomas is head of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer’s Research UK
