2024 Alzheimer’s Disease
Awareness Survey

Welcome to our comprehensive overview of the 2024 National Poll on Alzheimer’s Disease, conducted by FTP Insights and Accelerate Advocacy. This survey reveals critical insights into public perceptions, personal connections, and knowledge gaps regarding Alzheimer’s, highlighting the urgent need for increased awareness, innovative treatments that focus on blood flow and vascular health, and enhanced quality of life for patients. Here, you will find detailed charts, graphs, and quotes from the survey, visually representing these significant findings. For a deeper dive into the results, explore our blog series, which covers key themes and offers in-depth analysis. Stay informed and join us in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

FTP Insights and Accelerate Advocacy conducted a national online survey among 1,028 registered voters from April 30 to May 4, 2024.

The purpose of the survey was to understand public perceptions of Alzheimer’s disease, its current treatments, and gauge support for new treatments.

The margin of error for an N=1,028 sample size is a +/-3.06% at a 95% confidence interval.

Totals are used to combine answer options into summary groups (e.g., 'Very Serious' and Somewhat Serious' into a ‘Serious' category). Due to rounding, these may not always sum to 100%.

  1. Alzheimer’s disease is a national priority that affects voters personally.

Voters believe Alzheimer’s disease and dementia to be serious health conditions.

Below are some health conditions in the United States you may have heard of. For each, please rate how serious of a problem you think it is.

For voters, it’s personal. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia rank just behind cancer in concern about being diagnosed with these diseases.

Below you will see the same list of health conditions. On a scale of 1 to 7, please rate how concerned you would be if you were diagnosed with that condition, with 1 meaning not at all concerned and 7 meaning very concerned. You may use any number in between.

4 in 10 voters know people with Alzheimer’s, including the majority of younger voters.

As you may know, Alzheimer’s is a type of brain disease that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Do you personally know anyone who is living with Alzheimer’s disease?

A quarter of voters are in caregiving roles for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.

Do you currently care for, or have you recently in the past two years cared for a family member or friend who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease?

2. There is low awareness and satisfaction with current Alzheimer’s disease treatments.

Knowledge of Alzheimer’s treatments is very low with just a small percentage saying they know “a lot.”

Generally speaking, how much would you say you know about current treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease?

In a sentence or two, what do you know about current treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease?

  • "I know there are medications that slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease but don't cure it."

    Open-Ended Voter Response

  • "I am relatively unfamiliar with treatment options for Alzheimer's disease other than care homes."

    Open-Ended Voter Response

  • "No cure. There are a few medicines that can slow the progression of it and treat symptoms."

    Open-Ended Voter Response

  • "Advancements in prevention are being made, but I'm not aware of treatments."

    Open-Ended Voter Responses

Satisfaction levels with current treatments are low, with very few “very satisfied.”

Only recently has there been progress in detecting and treating Alzheimer’s, and there are still many questions surrounding the disease. When it comes to current treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease, how satisfied are you with the treatment options today?

What are some positive aspects about the current treatments
available for Alzheimer’s disease?

  • "I think there are some medications and even diets than can slow it down, but nothing I know of that can reverse the damage done by it."

    Open-Ended Voter Response

  • "They give hope to patients."

    Open-Ended Voter Response

  • "The drugs help reduce or control some cognitive and behavioral symptoms."

    Open-Ended Voter Response

  • "That advancements are being made, and seen, every day."

    Open-Ended Voter Responses

What are some negative aspects about the current treatments
available for Alzheimer’s disease?

  • "They don't reverse damage that has already been done and ultimately, they can't prevent the progression of the disease."

    Open-Ended Voter Response

  • "Not everyone faced with Alzheimer's disease has the knowledge or money to properly treat said disease."

    Open-Ended Voter Response

  • "That there really is no treatment. Just prolongs the inevitable."

    Open-Ended Voter Response

  • "They are pricey and risky."

    Open-Ended Voter Responses

3. There is significant enthusiasm for new avenues of treatment, especially those focusing on blood flow and vascular health.

Information on importance of vascular health and blood flow to the brain given to participants.

Below are some statements you might see about Alzheimer’s disease. After reading each, please indicate how important it is to help your understanding of Alzheimer’s.

Voters were most compelled by information on the aging population & brain imaging evidence.

Below are some statements you might see about Alzheimer’s disease. After reading each, please indicate how important it is to help your understanding of Alzheimer’s.

Virtually all voters want to explore treatments that focus on vascular health & healthy blood flow.

Based on the following information, how important of a priority should it be to explore Alzheimer’s
treatments that focus on vascular health?
For many years, the focus of Alzheimer’s drug development has been on removing plaques from the brain. However, a key piece in the puzzle is the link between vascular health and Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, since the discovery of the disease, researchers have found the health of our blood vessels has profound implications for the brain's well-being. Healthy blood flow to the brain delivers essential nutrients and helps remove potentially destructive material away from the brain.

All demographic sub-groups agree that focusing on treatments for vascular health is essential.

Based on this information, how important of a priority should it be to explore Alzheimer’s treatments that focus on vascular health?

In a direct question, voters agree that it is vital to explore all treatment options, including vascular health.

Which of the following comes closest to your view, even if neither is exactly right?

Voters almost universally support making more treatments available.

Thinking about Alzheimer’s disease, how important is it that more treatment options become available?

4. Voters value treatments that tackle quality of life issues with Alzheimer’s disease

Voters were asked to consider the value of several attributes that could be associated with a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

Below are some examples of things that people may say are valuable about an Alzheimer’s treatment.

Voters consider attributes related to improving quality of life measures and affordability as the most essential for new treatments.

Below are some examples of things that people may say are valuable about an Alzheimer’s treatment. For each, please rate how important it is to you when considering whether an Alzheimer’s treatment is valuable or not.

Second-tier priorities for new treatments are still very popular.

Below are some examples of things that people may say are valuable about an Alzheimer’s treatment. For each, please rate how important it is to you when considering whether an Alzheimer’s treatment is valuable or not.

When asked to choose, voters value reversing cognitive decline and prolonging independence.

Which of the following is the most important attribute to you in an Alzheimer’s treatment? Which is second most important?

To see more of our analysis, take a look at our blog series that digs into our findings and puts them in perspective.