Contextualizing adolescent’s experiences of dementia in England

Adolescents represent an under-researched group that may already have experiences of dementia. In this study, we aimed to capture adolescents’ level of contact (frequency) and quality of contact (whether experiences were positive or negative) with people living with the condition. In this cross-sectional study, 1,371 adolescents (aged 11-18 years old) across England were recruited. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, and regressions were employed to explore the association between socio-demographic factors and the frequency and quality of dementia contact in adolescents. Over 64% of adolescents had come across people living with dementia, while over a quarter of adolescents had looked after someone living with the condition. The level of contact and quality of contact differed significantly between ethnic and religious groups. Stakeholders should work closely with different communities and schools, and take into consideration the nuances of cultural and region-specific resources in the community when seeking to raise dementia awareness in adolescents.