New research commissioned by Dementia UK, the specialist dementia nursing charity, has revealed that only a quarter (23%) of UK adults are aware that dementia and the menopause share similar symptoms.
The poll of over 3,000 adults, also found that only 26% of women are aware that dementia and menopause share symptoms.
The charity has published the data during World Menopause Awareness Month to highlight how societal stigma and the lack of knowledge around menopause and dementia can lead to poorer health outcomes for women. Dementia UK has worked with The Menopause Charity to create a resource with more information around menopause and dementia symptoms.
Around 90% of women experience menopausal symptoms. For some women experiencing menopause or perimenopause – the time leading up to menopause where hormone levels begin to fluctuate – it can be challenging to differentiate whether symptoms including brain fog and concentration issues are a result of hormonal changes or a sign of dementia. This can lead to delays in diagnosing dementia as these common symptoms are dismissed as menopausal.
According to figures from Dementia UK, there is an estimated 70,800 people in the UK living with young onset dementia, where symptoms begin before the age of 65. A person can be diagnosed with dementia at any age, but it can be mistaken as a condition that only affects adults in later life.
Dementia UK’s specialist dementia Admiral Nurses are ideally placed to offer tailored advice to people who are concerned about young onset dementia and/ or the menopause. The charity’s Nurses provide life-changing support and guidance for families affected by all forms of dementia.
Jules Knight, Consultant Admiral Nurse for Young Onset Dementia, said: “Throughout my career, I’ve met many women living with both dementia and the menopause/ perimenopause, and I remain struck by the lack of knowledge regarding the intersection between them. Societal stigma has led to countless misdiagnoses and poorer health outcomes for women.
“With rising cases of young onset dementia and almost 13 million women experiencing menopause, greater insight, education and awareness of menopause and dementia is a necessity among health and social care professionals.”
Dementia UK has developed a leaflet on dementia, perimenopause and menopause in collaboration with The Menopause Charity. The leaflet provides information on symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause, and how living with young onset dementia, perimenopause and/or menopause can impact day-to-day life. You can download the resource here: http://dementiauk.org/young-onset-dementia-menopause.
If you need advice or support around young onset dementia and perimenopause or menopause or any other aspect of dementia, you can visit dementiauk.org/young-onset-dementia-menopause for information resources and to find out how to access our national Helpline and Clinics services.