Lay Knowledge About Dementia in Iceland: Symptoms and Risk and Protective Factors

• Published in: Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
• Main Authors: María K. Jónsdóttir PhD, Elva Björk Pálsdóttir BS, Stefanía Ýr Hannesdóttir BS, Thorlakur Karlsson PhD
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2022
• Subjects: Geriatrics; RC952-954.6; Iceland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214221142937; https://doaj.org/article/8ee1840a35ee41d59f6ca070ea9592a7

No studies are available on the lay knowledge about dementia in Nordic countries. A survey was sent to 829 Icelanders aged 25 to 65 (61.2% female). 60.8% resided in the capital area of Reykjavik. About 90% or more recognized eight of eleven dementia symptoms, with females recognizing them proportionally more often than males. About 50% believed that an individual’s risk of developing dementia could be modified. For individual risk factors, agreement ranged from 4% (hearing loss) to 75.1% (history of brain injury). Knowledge about cardiovascular risk factors ranged from 24.8% (obese) to 43.6% (high blood pressure). Participants acknowledged the importance of a healthy diet and an active lifestyle, but only 8% identified a low education level as a risk factor. Public health campaigns and educational efforts about dementia should focus on the whole lifespan targeting all risk and protective factors operating throughout the lifespan.