World Alzheimer Report 2024

Global changes in attitudes to dementia

The 2024 World Alzheimer Report explores attitudes toward dementia, examining how the condition is perceived and understood by society and the stigma that still surrounds the condition, underpinned by a global survey of more than 40,000 individuals across 166 countries and territories, and 24 expert essays.

The World Alzheimer Report 2024 offers a unique, global perspective on changing attitudes toward dementia, featuring a blend of insightful essays, real-life case studies, and impactful research findings. The report also sheds light on how knowledge, perceptions, and behaviours towards dementia have changed over the past five years. 

The report delves into the results of an international survey analysed by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), consisting of more than 40,000 responses from people living with dementia, carers, health and care practitioners, and the general public from over 166 countries and territories. The survey is a follow-up to ADI’s landmark 2019 Attitudes to dementia survey, and explores how perceptions of dementia have – or haven’t – changed in the span of five years. 

The report highlights how different communities and individuals experience and address dementia stigma, from advocacy in low- and middle-income countries to innovative outreach programmes for youth and marginalised groups. The report underscores the urgent need to address the stigma and discrimination that exist around dementia globally and provides real-world examples of how this can be achieved.

 

 

Chapters included in the report: 

  1. What is stigma?  
  2. Attitudes to dementia survey results  
  3. Expert essays  
  4. Case studies of stigma  
  5. Case studies in addressing stigma  
  6. Conclusion  

 

Key survey findings 

  • 65% of health and care professionals incorrectly believe dementia is a normal part of ageing. 
  • 80% of the general public  believe dementia is a normal part of ageing, a dramatic increase compared to 66% in 2019. 
  • 88% of people living with dementia indicate experiencing discrimination. 
  • Over a quarter of people globally incorrectly believe there is nothing we can do to prevent dementia, with that number increasing from 20% in 2019 to  37% in lower- and middle-income countries. 
  • More than 90% of carers and respondents from the general public said they would be encouraged to get a diagnosis if a disease-modifying treatment for dementia was available. 
  • More than 80% of the general public believe that they can change the support provided to people with dementia through their vote. 
  • Over 58% of the general public believe dementia is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. 

Access the ADI World Alzheimer Report collection:

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