In recent decades, people around the world have been living longer. By 2030, one in six people in the world will be aged 60 or over. Dementias occur predominantly sporadically and in older age groups. It is estimated that 5-7% of people ≥ 60 years of age suffer from some form of dementia. The aim of this research is to investigate whether there is a correlation between the measurement variables. In addition to the attitudes themselves, we examined the extent to which demographic factors, different educational content to which students were exposed and coexistence with the elderly affect the formation of students' attitudes towards aging and dementia as a social phenomenon. The research included students of the University of Split who study at the Faculty of Philosophy, Maritime Studies, the Faculty of Medicine and the Department of Health Studies. Of these, 113 are health students and 120 are non-health students. There are differences in the perception of health and non-health students about aging and dementia as a social phenomenon, but the perception is generally more positive among health students and not different in terms of demographic characteristics (age, gender, residence and year of study). There are no differences in students' perceptions of aging and dementia with respect to personal life experience with older people. Due to the growing share of the elderly population in the world and the growing number of people with dementia, each person is surrounded by a large number of elderly people and is more likely to meet a person with dementia during their lifetime. Therefore, it would be good to have knowledge and to be free of prejudice against them so that they can be approached and helped in an appropriate way if necessary.