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Dementia knowledge levels among adolescents in England
Esra Hassan1, Ben Hicks2, Naji Tabet3
1University of Surrey. Cancer Care Group, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Surrey Research Park, Guildford, United Kingdom.
Aging & Mental Health
|March 30, 2026
Summary
Adolescents demonstrate low dementia knowledge, with nearly half answering questions incorrectly. Universal dementia education is needed to correct widespread misconceptions in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Gerontology
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Public awareness of dementia is a key policy objective.
- Understanding dementia knowledge among adolescents is limited.
- Adolescents represent a crucial demographic for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess dementia knowledge levels in adolescents (aged 11-18).
- To identify socio-demographic factors associated with adolescent dementia knowledge.
- To explore common misconceptions about dementia in young people.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey of 1,371 adolescents across England.
- Utilized dementia knowledge items from the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey.
- Employed descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and cross-tabulations for analysis.
Main Results:
- Adolescents correctly answered less than half (48%) of dementia knowledge items.
- Only 30% correctly identified dementia as not a mental illness.
- 53% incorrectly believed dementia is a normal part of aging; no significant demographic differences found.
Conclusions:
- Significant misconceptions about dementia exist among adolescents.
- Lack of demographic variation suggests a need for universal interventions.
- Targeted dementia education and awareness campaigns are recommended for adolescents.
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