Many Australians unaware of risk factors for dementia

New data released by Dementia Australia for Brain Health Week shows that Australians are largely unaware that common health issues such as hearing loss, depression and high cholesterol are risk factors for dementia.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said that dementia is the second leading cause of death for all Australians and there are currently 433,300 Australians living with the condition.
“Dementia is on track to become the country’s biggest cause of death within the next five years. While we cannot change getting older, genetics or family history, scientific research shows that looking after our brain health can make a big difference to reducing or delaying the risk of developing dementia,” Professor Buchanan said.
A recent survey of Australian attitudes towards dementia, found that many Australians remained unaware that proactive steps can help reduce dementia risk.
Last year, the Lancet Commission identified 14 modifiable risk factors which, if addressed effectively, could reduce dementia incidence globally by 45 per cent.
The risk factors include smoking, obesity and physical inactivity as well as factors such as hearing loss, high cholesterol and depression.
“In fact, people with mild-severe hearing loss are two to five times as likely to develop dementia than those with normal hearing,” Professor Buchanan said.
Dementia Australia Honorary Medical Advisor Henry Brodaty AO led a recent three-year clinical trial that has definitively shown that looking after our brain health slows cognitive decline.
The University of New South Wales Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing trial – ‘Maintain Your Brain’ – tested whether effectively addressing some of the modifiable risk factors for dementia resulted in better cognition in older adults over a three-year period.
Contacts
Find out more about the modifiable risk factors that can make a big difference to your brain health: dementia.org.au/brain-health/reducing-your-risk-dementia.
For support, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. An interpreter service is available. The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government. People looking for information can also visit dementia.org.au