Public knowledge of late-life cognitive decline and dementia in an international sample

Abstract

Results suggested that the following sociodemographic variables are associated with less overall knowledge: young age, male gender, low educational attainment, born in a developing nation, of ethnic minority status, not married, and less prior dementia experience. Specific knowledge gaps emerged in cerebrovascular disease, delirium versus dementia, treatment of behavioral dementia symptoms, Alzheimer's disease genetics, Parkinson's disease symptoms, and characteristics of chronic traumatic encephalopathy and subjective cognitive decline.<b>Discussion and implications:</b> Findings may facilitate effective multinational dementia education initiatives by providing specific recommendations as to which sociodemographic populations and content knowledge domains will benefit the most from limited resources.