Dementia Support Line
Our Help and Hope strategy
Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer and one of the greatest health challenges of our time. It is rare to meet someone who hasn’t personally witnessed the devastation of this condition. Our mission is to end that devastation.
A scandal in plain sight
Dementia is a terminal medical condition caused by progressive diseases of the brain. It puts overwhelming strain on individuals, families, our economy, and our health and social care system. Despite this, it has never been prioritised.
The current experience of dementia is dominated by late diagnosis, inadequate treatment, and fragmented, costly care and support. This would not be accepted for any other major health condition – so why do we accept it for dementia?
We are a galvanising force for change
We are proud to stand by people living with dementia, along with the millions more caring for them and those grieving loved ones. We share their dissatisfaction with the status quo. And we are determined to end the devastation of dementia once and for all. The only way to do this is to radically transform the health and social care system.
We will take a galvanising role, seeding transformational change across the system. As well as continuing to deliver support to those experiencing dementia today, we will invest in the catalytic forces of diagnostics, research and data.
We will show what is possible through pioneering innovations in technology and service design. And we will invest in targeted interventions to address the most pressing areas of systemic injustice and neglect.
It will take a society to beat dementia
We are at a pivotal moment. And we can’t do it alone. We will partner with those who possess the skills, knowledge and passion to achieve our vision, and we will campaign with those affected by or worried about dementia to make dementia impossible to ignore.
It will take a society to beat dementia. Alzheimer’s Society.
Download our strategic vision
Read more about our strategic vision for ending the devastation of dementia.
Our vision and goals
We want a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.
No matter who you are or where you live, your chance of dying from diseases that cause dementia will be reduced; and if you develop dementia, you will live longer with a better quality of life.
Our strategic priorities
Our strategic impact goals
By 2050
- Fewer people develop dementia.
- Everyone receives an early and accurate diagnosis. More people have the disease detected at pre-symptomatic stages.
- Everyone has access to a personalised treatment pathway post-detection and access to safe, effective treatments and interventions.
- Everyone receives high-quality, personalised care and support to manage their condition, retaining independence for longer and preventing avoidable crises.
By 2030
- More people have access to the tools and knowledge needed to reduce their risk.
- Diagnosis happens earlier and more accurately.
- Data helps to identify specific health inequalities in diagnosis.
- Everyone eligible can get NICE-approved treatments and interventions.
- New pharmacological treatments are available on the NHS.
- Earlier intervention and high-quality support allow people to manage their condition, retain independence for longer and prevent avoidable crises.
Recent Lancet Commission research, part-funded by Alzheimer’s Society, has shown that as many of 45% of global dementia cases could be prevented or delayed through modifiable risk factors.
In 2025, a blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease was trialled on the NHS for the first time ever, as part of a multi-million pound clinical translation pilot co-funded by Alzheimer’s Society.
In 2024, the first ever disease- modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s disease – based on discoveries originally made in Alzheimer’s Society-funded research – were approved as safe and effective by the UK medicines regulator.
How we are reducing helplessness while building hopefulness
Our world-leading dementia support services and resources play a vital role in helping hundreds of thousands of people each year prevent crises and retain their independence for longer.
The Manchester Brain Health Centre, co-funded by Alzheimer’s Society, is pioneering a new multidisciplinary approach to supporting people in the earlier stages of cognitive decline – aiming to transform how dementia is diagnosed, slowed down and prevented.
Our groundbreaking Dementia Research Nurses, funded by Alzheimer’s Society in partnership with the UK Dementia Trials Network, are significantly expanding the number and diversity of participants taking part in clinical trials – a vital accelerator of scientific breakthroughs.