Dementia Awareness and Risk Factors Assessment: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Irish Population

OBJECTIVES: Dementia refers to a series of diseases affecting brain health which leads to progressive deterioration in cognition, resulting in memory loss, impairments in judgement, difficulties in communicating with others, difficulties in performing daily tasks, and difficulty recognising individuals and objects. Approximately 55 million people globally suffer from dementia; in Ireland, approximately 64,000 people are diagnosed with dementia having implications for families, employers, and society. With population growth and increased longevity, the clinical and economic burden of dementia is unsustainable. Preventative public health responses including dementia awareness campaigns have been developed internationally. This research sought to understand population level understanding of dementia risk factors in the Republic of Ireland.

METHODS: A cross-sectional online study recruited a sample of Irish adults in 2022. A modified version of a validated dementia knowledge survey was utilized. Statistical analysis of the measured dementia awareness levels, and how individual and environmental factors contributed to these awareness levels was performed.

RESULTS: Data from 241 participants was analysed (28.6% 55-65+ years, 68.0% female, 43.2% tertiary education). Poor knowledge of dementia risk factors and better knowledge of protective factors was observed. Contributary factors to decreased dementia knowledge levels included age categories 35-44 years (OR = 2.478, p = 0.05) and 45-54 years (OR = 2.906, p = 0.017) relative to the base category of 18-34 years, female gender (OR = 1.840, p= 0.087), self-reported medium dementia knowledge (OR = 0.495, p = 0.069), self-reported high dementia knowledge (OR = 0.225, p = 0.003), and dementia exposure (OR = 0.386, p = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS: This analysis highlighted notable variation in dementia risk factors with overall levels reported concerning. Limited dementia risk and protective factors understanding may hinder engagement in dementia risk awareness campaigns; suggesting further evidence is needed in effective communication strategies targeting at-risk sub-groups within the population.