Wicking Dementia Centre

You will have the opportunity to engage in online discussions, and can also participate in new research in this field, to help us determine the most effective ways to help people reduce their dementia risk. At the end of the Preventing Dementia MOOC, there is also the opportunity to undertake an assessment of your individual risk.

Preventing Dementia is suited to everyone - whether you are an individual with an interest in brain health and/or dementia risk reduction, or an allied health professional, clinician, aged care service provider or health policy professional - this course is designed to be accessible and appealing to people from diverse backgrounds.

To obtain the most from this course, participants should expect to spend approximately 2 hours per week engaging with the content and completing related course activities. The 4 weeks of scheduled content is released weekly and is accessible across 6 weeks in total, with the additional 2 weeks providing time to catch up on (or review), content. After successfully completing the final quiz, participants will be eligible to download a certificate of completion.

Course Outline

Module 1 – Can Dementia Be Prevented?

Key concepts in dementia prevention

Definition of dementia and introduction to the diseases that cause dementia

The impact of dementia across the globe

The major non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors for dementia

The impact of genetics on dementia risk

How dementia risk is measured at individual and population levels

Module 2 – Dementia Risk - It's Not All in Your Head

Evidence supporting links between key vascular risk factors and dementia

The impact of physical activity and diet on dementia risk

The impact of smoking and alcohol on dementia risk

Module 3 – A Healthy and Active Mind

Evidence supporting links between key lifestyle factors and risk of dementia

Impact of depression on dementia risk

Impact of education on dementia risk

Concept of ‘cognitive reserve’

Module 4 – Interventions for Prevention

Key strategies for prevention at the individual and population level

Encouraging healthy behaviours

What you can do to reduce your risk of dementia

Current research initiatives in dementia prevention