Community knowledge of dementia: a cross-sectional study in the Southeast region of Brazil.

There is a gap in the literature regarding popular knowledge about dementia. Although dementia affects older individuals more frequently, it does not belong to senescence. Lack of awareness contributes to the normalization of cognitive decline, delaying the search for healthcare services, diagnosis, and treatments. Objective: Assess the population's knowledge about dementia and its relationship with socioeconomic characteristics. Methods: Cross-sectional study with a semi-structured questionnaire administered in person to a convenience sample of residents of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted. Significance level: p