The best UK dementia charities
Behind every family finding their feet after a diagnosis and every scientist chasing a cure is someone who keeps going: the nurses, researchers, volunteers and helpline teams standing with people affected by dementia. It's patient, compassionate work, and it means no family has to face dementia alone.
Four charities, each brilliant at a different part of the job.
Rather than a ranked list, we've picked a range of charities, so together they cover more than any one could alone.
Alzheimer's Society
- Dementia Support Line
- Dementia Advisers
- Carer Support
Alzheimer's Society has stood with people affected by dementia since 1979, and is now the country's largest dementia charity. Its Dementia Support Line and Dementia Advisers offer advice and tailored support, for carers as much as the person diagnosed. Its research investment helped produce the first NHS-administered blood test for dementia, and Singing for the Brain brings people together through song. Dementia is the UK's biggest killer, and we love that this charity answers it with help and hope.
Key stats
- People reached by its support services
- 106,000
- Volunteers giving their time
- 6,300
- Invested in three Doctoral Training Centres
- £9m
- People who walked Trek26 for dementia
- 9,121
Why we've included them
Alzheimer's Society offers advice and support through its Dementia Support Line and Dementia Advisers, for carers as much as the person diagnosed. It stands with families now, alongside the research and specialist nursing the others bring.
Registered Charity: 296645
Visit Alzheimer's Society
Alzheimer's Research UK
- Research Funding
- Drug Discovery
- Research Infoline
Alzheimer's Research UK was founded in 1992 as the Alzheimer's Research Trust, by a small team shocked by how little was being spent on dementia research. Today it's the UK's largest charitable funder of dementia research. Work it funded more than 20 years ago led to blood tests now used in clinical trials, and its Drug Discovery Alliance is hunting for new treatments. Its Dementia Research Infoline answers families' questions too, which keeps the science close to home.
Key stats
- Research projects funded since 1998
- 1,462
- Drug targets explored for new treatments
- 80+
- Dementia Research Infoline enquiries answered
- 7,600+
- People given personal brain health tips
- 240,000
Why we've included them
Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's largest charitable funder of dementia research. Its work spans blood tests and the search for new treatments, so science sits alongside the support and nursing.
Registered Charity: 1077089
Visit Alzheimer's Research UK
Dementia UK
- Admiral Nurses
- Family Support
- Dementia Helpline
Dementia UK began in 1990, when the family of Joseph Levy, known as 'Admiral Joe' for his love of sailing, helped launch the first Admiral Nurses. Today it's the UK's only charity dedicated to specialist dementia nursing. Admiral Nurses give free, expert advice and support to the whole family, on its helpline, in virtual clinics and in clinics across the UK. The helpline is open every day except Christmas Day, a steady presence for families all year round.
Key stats
- Admiral Nurses across the UK
- 476
- Helpline calls and emails answered
- 41,757
- Virtual clinic appointments
- 4,689
- Nationwide branches hosting its clinics
- 200
Why we've included them
Dementia UK's Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses who support the whole family. Its helpline and clinics add free, expert advice to the support and research the others offer.
Registered Charity: 1039404
Visit Dementia UK
Race Against Dementia
- Early-Career Scientists
- Formula 1 Expertise
Three-time Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart founded Race Against Dementia in 2016, after his wife Helen was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. He saw how quickly dementia progresses, and how slowly research responds. So it backs early-career scientists and brings Formula 1's precision, pace and continuous improvement to their work. Its researchers are running a world-first trial using sound waves to reach deep into the brain without surgery, which is exactly the bold thinking dementia research needs.
Key stats
- Existing drugs screened for frontotemporal dementia
- 6,600
- Wellcome award leveraged from its funding
- £4.5m
- Funded researchers at its international summit
- 40+
- Researchers given data by a challenge it backs
- 100+
Why we've included them
Race Against Dementia brings pace to the mix, backing early-career scientists with Formula 1's precision and continuous improvement. Its focus on the people doing the research complements the funding, nursing and support of the other three.
Registered Charity: 1165559
Visit Race Against Dementia
Four amazing dementia charities. Why choose just one?
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