Students' dementia experience, knowledge, and concern: An opportunity for Age-Friendly University (AFU) programming

The Age-Friendly University (AFU) initiative was established as a framework to guide higher education in the development of programs, practices, and partnerships that support aging populations. This study examined the need for age-friendly efforts to include dementia-friendly educational opportunities by providing information about undergraduate students' personal experience, knowledge, and concern regarding dementia and Alzheimer's disease (D/AD), along with their interest in D/AD educational support. A total of 106 students responded (30% response rate) to an online survey distributed in diverse classes, with more than 50% of students indicating that they had experience with someone with D/AD, primarily a grandparent. Students showed low levels of knowledge and strong concern about developing D/AD, confirming the need for more dementia-focused efforts. Students also expressed interest in a number of educational activities. These data call for AFU institutions to offer more age-friendly, dementia-friendly programs that provide students with needed information and support related to D/AD.