24 Aug 2014

Dementia affects most NZers - study

1:21 pm on 24 August 2014

New research on dementia shows two-thirds of New Zealanders are close to someone suffering from the condition.

The research, by Alzheimers New Zealand, also shows half of those have been involved in the direct care of people suffering from dementia.

Executive director Catherine Hall says about 50,000 people suffer from dementia and the condition touches nearly every New Zealander.

"Dementia affects the vast majority of us. Two-thirds of us know or have known someone with dementia, and for many of us dementia directly affects our families and our daily lives."

Ms Hall also said one-third of the people questioned were worried about suffering from dementia later in life.