Preventing Dementia (Independent)

Preventing Dementia is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), offering university-quality education about the latest research in dementia risk and protective factors. The free 4-week course provides an opportunity to engage with the perspectives of a global community, without requiring exams or assignments.

With the ageing of the world’s population, dementia is looming as the public health issue of the 21st Century. Is it possible to modify your risk of dementia? A substantial proportion of risk is associated with advanced ageing as well as genetic risk factors, but the latest research has indicated there are modifiable risk factors which may decrease your susceptibility to dementia. The Preventing Dementia MOOC investigates the best available evidence about dementia prevention, drawing on a range of global experts.

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 designed to be accessible and appealing to people from diverse backgrounds including

• Health and allied health professionals
• Community and residential aged care staff
• Health policymakers
• Social scientists
• Individuals with a general interest in brain health and/or dementia

The course runs for 6 weeks in total. The first week of the course is an orientation period. Content will be delivered during weeks 2 to 6. To obtain the most from this course, participants should expect to spend approximately 2 hours per week engaging with the course content and activities. After successfully completing the final quiz, participants will be eligible to download a free certificate of completion.

Syllabus

Module 1 – Can dementia be prevented?

Key concepts in dementia prevention.
Definition of dementia and introduction to the diseases that cause dementia.
Important factors influencing the numbers of people with dementia across the globe.
The impact of dementia on the health care system.

Module 2 – Risk factors for dementia

How we study dementia risk in populations
Non-modifiable vs modifiable risk factors
The major modifiable risk factors
How dementia risk is measured at individual and population levels

Module 3 – Dementia risk – it’s not all in your head

Evidence supporting links between key vascular and medical risk factors with dementia

Module 4 – A healthy and active life

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 5 – Interventions for prevention

Key strategies for prevention at the individual and population level
Encouraging healthy behaviors
What you can do to reduce your risk of dementia
Current research initiatives