DEMENTIA IS BIGGEST FEAR OF OLDER PEOPLE

SUFFERING dementia is the leading fear for older people in Britain, a study has found.

Health, wealth and the prospect of relocation were the top concerns of the UK’s over-55s, according to the research by consumer analysts Mintel.

And for 56 per cent of people over the age of 55, one of their main concerns was developing dementia, a figure which rose to 59 per cent among those aged 65 to 74.

A Mintel spokesman said: “The onset of dementia proves the headline health concern for the over-55s.

“The sense of fear which enshrouds dementia threatens to prevent people from becoming more informed about the condition.

“It could also mean that people delay seeking a diagnosis should they be concerned that they are experiencing potential symptoms.” There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia.

About 850,000 Britons suffer from some form of the disease at a cost of £26billion a year.

Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams said: “Dementia is not an inevitable part of growing older.

“The good news is that there are steps that can be taken to reduce our chances of developing dementia and stay sharp in later life.

“Taking exercise and engaging in new activities are linked with better thinking skills in later life.”

More than a quarter (26 per cent) of over-55s were worried about not having enough money, while concerns about having to move into a retirement home were cited as a reason for anxiety by 25 per cent.