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 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 a major public health issue. 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 expertise from around the globe.
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
