Dementia prevention outside cities

Almost 50 percent of dementia risk is preventable, highlighting the need for research, equitable public health approaches and targeted lifestyle interventions for all Australians – regardless of where they live.

Most dementia prevention research in Australia, and indeed the world is primarily based in metropolitan areas. Understanding the unique needs of rural, regional and remote communities is a knowledge gap that requires attention and solutions for dementia prevention that are appropriate, accessible, and innovative.

Evidence suggests that up to 48% of dementia cases could be prevented by addressing physical inactivity, midlife obesity and hypertension, some of the greatest contributors to modifiable risk in Australia.

Many Australians living outside metropolitan areas face unique challenges due to geographic location, and often experience poorer health outcomes than people living in metropolitan areas. As someone who grew up in regional Australia, Dr Mia Schaumberg, Senior Lecturer in Physiology at the, University of the Sunshine Coast has experienced firsthand the challenges that come from living away from the city.

‘From greater distances to travel, fewer services and opportunities, and internet/phone connectivity issues, there can be barriers to receiving equitable access to healthcare around every long, winding dirt-road turn. For older Australians living rurally, access to dementia prevention and treatment can be extremely difficult. Merely receiving a diagnosis can be challenging, expensive and time-consuming.’

Tackling these challenges starts with gaining greater insight into the needs outside metropolitan areas. ‘For example, what risk factors for dementia are most concerning in regional Australia? What interventions may be most impactful for key risk factors? How can we attract and retain specialist clinicians and dementia researchers to work in regional, rural and remote communities?’

Public health approaches and targeted lifestyle interventions can address multiple risk factors for dementia, including emerging influences such as smoking, hearing loss and sleep. It is therefore important that everyone has access to dementia prevention efforts, including those who live outside the cities.

Extract from the 24th issue of INSPIRE, highlighting how incredibly important Health and Medical Research is in the more remote and rural areas of our country.