The article analyzes possibilities in sociological research of dementia and social problems it generates. In conditions of increase of unfavorable tendencies related to dementia, occurs decreasing of social status of patients and their relatives tending them, increasing of their socioeconomic maladjustment, deterioration of social and psychological well-being, stigmatization and even social isolation of individuals affected by the problem (including people working with patients with dementia). The dementia results in changes of social identity of patient and one's relatives, image, quality and standard of living. The caregivers begin to devote less time to themselves and their basic needs. The contradictions in family are becoming more aggravated. The results of surveys demonstrate readiness of many Russians to hypothetically leave in family and provide home caring of diseased relative. The necessity of development of social institutes of curative preventive and social rehabilitative care increases. However, particular difficulties of carrying out sociological surveys of people with dementia that indicates necessity of approbation of special research methodologies. The research methods can vary from mass surveys to depth interview, from analysis of official documents to focus groups. In demand are study of public opinion, expert appraisal, surveys of nearest social environment to identify social risks conditioned by dementia, detection of social groups most affected by its negative impact, analysis of expectations and attitudes of social environment, possibilities of social adaptation and integration in society of those who anyway are affected by the problem, amelioration of their social positioning. of public opinion, expert assessments, surveys of the immediate social environment are in demand in order to highlight the social risks caused by dementia; to identify those social groups that are most susceptible to its negative impact; analysis of expectations and attitudes of the social environment, opportunities for social adaptation and integration into society of all those affected by the problem.
Keywords: dementia; potential research issues; social problem; sociological studies.