Words matter.
They shape how we think, how we feel, and sometimes, how we act.
There is one word in particular that many people would rather not say: dementia.
It can evoke fear, uncertainty and stigma. For some, the word carries assumptions about loss of independence, loss of identity, or a future defined by decline. Stigma surrounding dementia is real, and it can affect how people living with dementia are treated, how families talk about the condition, and even whether people feel comfortable seeking help.
So why would we deliberately put the word dementia in our organization’s name?
Because we believe that we need to say the word in order to change the conversation around it.
We don’t want to hide from the word “dementia.”
We want to destigmatize it.
Dementia is a medical condition—not a definition of a person. A person living with dementia remains a person with a lifetime of experiences, relationships, talents, interests, hopes and dreams. The diagnosis does not erase any of those things.
How we talk about dementia matters. Alzheimer’s Society, for example, emphasizes the importance of language that recognizes people as individuals first and avoids language that defines or diminishes them because of a diagnosis.
At Hope for Dementia, we want to contribute to a culture where people can talk openly about dementia—without shame, fear or embarrassment.
And that brings us to the other word in our name:
Hope.
Why “Hope”?
Because although there is currently no cure for dementia, there is reason for hope.
That hope comes, in part, from what we are learning about dementia prevention and risk reduction.
The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care identified 14 potentially modifiable risk factors across the life course. The Commission estimates that addressing these factors could potentially prevent or delay approximately 45% of dementia cases globally.
The 14 factors include:
- Less education
- Hearing loss
- High LDL cholesterol
- Depression
- Traumatic brain injury
- Physical inactivity
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Social isolation
- Air pollution
- Untreated vision loss
This does not mean that dementia can be completely prevented. Nor does it mean that an individual can eliminate their personal risk simply by changing their lifestyle.
But it does mean that there are things we can do.
And that is powerful.
Prevention gives us a path forward
At Hope for Dementia, our mission is to protect the brain health of our seniors through prevention.
We believe that in the absence of a cure, prevention and risk reduction provide a hopeful path forward—particularly for seniors and others who may be vulnerable to dementia.
Hope means moving from “There is nothing we can do” to “There are things we can do.”
It means learning about our risk factors.
It means taking care of our physical health.
It means staying socially connected.
It means keeping our brains active.
It means managing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
It means paying attention to hearing and vision.
It means staying physically active.
And it means starting conversations about brain health before a diagnosis.
So, what’s in a word?
There is a lot in the word dementia.
But there is also a lot in the word hope.
By putting the two words together, Hope for Dementia represents our belief that we should not be afraid to talk about dementia—and that talking about it can be the beginning of doing something about it.
We choose to name dementia.
We choose to educate.
We choose to focus on prevention.
And above all, we choose hope.
What can you do to reduce your risks?
Learn more about dementia prevention, the 14 modifiable risk factors, and practical ways to protect your brain health.
Visit our online Resource Centre and join us in turning awareness into action—and uncertainty into hope.
Hope for Dementia: Because there is hope for a healthier brain.
