The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading dementia charity, providing support, information, and advice to people living with dementia and their families[1]. Founded in 1979, the organization supports millions of people affected by dementia through its network of services, while also funding research to find better treatments and ultimately a cure.
The Alzheimer's Society plays a vital role in improving dementia care, influencing policy, and raising awareness about dementia across the UK. The organization's mission is to transform the landscape of dementia care and research forever[2].
Dementia represents one of the most significant healthcare challenges facing the UK today. According to recent epidemiological research, over 850,000 people are living with dementia in the UK, with this number projected to rise to over one million by 2025 as the population ages[3]. Approximately 70,000 people develop dementia each year, translating to one new case every three minutes.
The prevalence of dementia increases dramatically with age, affecting approximately 1 in 6 people over the age of 80[4]. However, dementia is not exclusively a condition of older age, with around 40,000 people under 65 living with dementia in the UK. This "younger onset" dementia presents unique challenges in terms of diagnosis, support, and care planning.
The economic burden of dementia in the UK is substantial, with an estimated annual cost of £34.7 billion to the economy[2:1]. This includes:
The majority of dementia care (approximately 66%) is provided by unpaid informal caregivers, typically family members[5]. These caregivers often experience significant physical, emotional, and financial strain, highlighting the importance of support services provided by organizations like the Alzheimer's Society.
The UK National Dementia Strategy, first published in 2009 and updated subsequently, provides the framework for dementia care and services across England. Similar strategies exist in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Alzheimer's Society plays a key role in influencing these policies and advocating for improvements in dementia care.
The Alzheimer's Society provides comprehensive information on all forms of dementia, helping people understand the specific conditions affecting their loved ones.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for approximately 60% of all cases[6]. It is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, leading to progressive cognitive decline. The disease typically begins with memory problems and progresses to affect language, reasoning, orientation, and behavior.
Early-onset Alzheimer's disease, occurring before the age of 65, accounts for around 5% of all cases and may have distinct genetic and pathological features. Research into early-onset Alzheimer's is a priority area for the Society, as it often presents unique diagnostic and support challenges.
Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia, caused by problems with blood supply to the brain. It often develops after a stroke or series of small strokes and can coexist with Alzheimer's disease (mixed dementia). The progression of vascular dementia is often stepwise, with sudden declines following each vascular event.
The Alzheimer's Society provides specific support for people with vascular dementia, including information on stroke prevention, rehabilitation, and managing the specific challenges associated with this type of dementia.
Lewy body dementia is a complex form of dementia characterized by the presence of Lewy bodies (abnormal protein deposits) in the brain. It affects approximately 100,000 people in the UK and presents unique challenges including:
The Lewy Body Society, now part of Dementia UK, works closely with the Alzheimer's Society to provide specialized support for this condition.
Frontotemporal dementia encompasses a group of rare disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Unlike most other forms of dementia, it often affects people under the age of 65. The condition can cause significant changes in personality, behavior, and language abilities.
The Alzheimer's Society provides specialized information and support for families affected by frontotemporal dementia, including connections to specialist services and research programs.
The Society also provides support and information for people affected by rarer forms of dementia, including:
Dementia Connect is the Alzheimer's Society's flagship support service, providing comprehensive assistance to people affected by dementia across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland[7]. The service is designed to be accessible and responsive to individual needs, offering:
Trained Dementia Advisers provide personalized support through a combination of telephone consultations, face-to-face meetings, and digital support. These specialists help individuals:
The Society produces comprehensive information resources covering all aspects of living with dementia, including:
Local support groups bring together people affected by dementia to share experiences, provide mutual support, and reduce isolation. Groups include:
The Alzheimer's Society operates direct care services in many areas:
Dementia day centers provide safe, stimulating environments for people with dementia while giving caregivers a break. Activities include:
In some areas, the Society operates care homes specifically designed for people with dementia, providing:
Respite care provides temporary relief for caregivers, including:
The Alzheimer's Society invests over £10 million annually in dementia research, making it one of the largest non-governmental funders of dementia research in the UK[8]. The Society's research strategy focuses on four priority areas:
Funding research aimed at:
Supporting research to improve:
Funding research on:
Supporting research to improve:
The Society funds research through various mechanisms:
The Society awards research grants through competitive peer-reviewed processes, funding projects at universities and research institutions across the UK. Recent major grants support:
The Society supports the next generation of dementia researchers through:
The Alzheimer's Society participates in international research collaborations, including:
Research funded by the Alzheimer's Society has contributed to:
The Alzheimer's Society runs major campaigns to improve the lives of people affected by dementia:
The Dementia Friends program[7:1] is the UK's biggest ever initiative to change people's perceptions of dementia. Launched in 2013, the program aims to:
The program has achieved remarkable success, with over 4 million Dementia Friends trained. Each Dementia Friend attends a 45-minute session to learn about dementia and how they can help.
This campaign focuses on improving the quality of care in:
The campaign has highlighted systemic issues in dementia care and influenced government policy.
This campaign advocates for:
The Alzheimer's Society influences policy at national and local levels:
The Alzheimer's Society actively promotes technology and innovation to support people with dementia:
The Society has supported the development and adoption of:
The Society funds research on technology solutions, including:
The Society runs innovation challenges to find new solutions:
The Alzheimer's Society provides extensive digital support:
The Alzheimer's Society relies on thousands of volunteers to deliver its services:
Volunteers make a critical contribution:
The Alzheimer's Society raises funds through various channels:
The Alzheimer's Society is committed to transparency:
The Alzheimer's Society is governed by:
The Society maintains high standards:
The Alzheimer's Society's current strategy focuses on:
The Society addresses emerging challenges:
The Alzheimer's Society envisions:
The Alzheimer's Society works with numerous partners:
Prince M, et al. Dementia prevalence, incidence and risk trends in the UK. Alzheimer's Dement. 2023. ↩︎ ↩︎
Matthews FE, et al. A two-decade comparison of prevalence of dementia in England. Nat Commun. 2018. ↩︎
Livingston G, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care. Lancet. 2020. ↩︎
Wolf S, et al. The impact of social isolation on cognitive decline in dementia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2018. ↩︎
Sosa-Ortiz AL, et al. Epidemiology of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in Latin America. Aging Dis. 2022. ↩︎
Robinson AC, et al. The role of the UK Biobank in understanding dementia. J Alzheimers Dis. 2019. ↩︎
Hoyle DN, et al. Update on non-pharmacological interventions for dementia. Nat Rev Neurol. 2023. ↩︎
Bahar-Fuchs A, et al. Cognitive training and cognitive rehabilitation for dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024. ↩︎