Taking stock of risks for World Alzheimer’s Day

Thursday 21 marks World Alzheimer's Day - an international day to support those living with Alzheimer's disease and dementia driven by Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) along with many other bodies globally.

This year's theme is 'Never too early, never too late' and focuses on mitigating and reducing risk factors that can increase the onset of dementia, while raising awareness that Alzheimer's disease can exist in the body many years before it starts to show symptoms.

Risk factors such as age, family history or genetic markers cannot be changed to prevent the disease's onset, but there are lifestyle changes that can be made to assist in delaying or preventing dementia altogether.

The 12 modifiable risk factors, including physical inactivity, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, are said to have a relationship with the disease and increase its chance of development, and if reduced can work together to delay up to 40 per cent of all diagnoses.

ADI is calling on individuals and large organisations to support this message, along with Dementia Australia (DA), which is sharing a similar message this Dementia Action Week, from 18-24 September.

DA aims to educate members of the community on what they can do to support a dementia-friendly future. It provides information on their website for councils, businesses and individuals looking to audit their premises, and encourages them to enact small changes to allow those living with dementia to feel more accepted in all spaces across the community.

Natalie Ive is a DA advocate and Melbourne woman who is living with primary progressive aphasia, a dementia that affects the language area of the brain. The 50-year-old avoids the risk of worsening her symptoms through regular exercise and a Mediterranean-style diet.

A year after being diagnosed with early-onset dementia, Ms Ive joined her local gym, Fitness for Her (FFH) in 2019, and the gym made small changes and initiated new workout classes so that they were dementia-inclusive, which Natalie said makes her feel like she belongs there.

"I opened up to my gym manager, Charlene, about living with dementia and was greeted with great support," she said.

"A review happens every six to eight weeks to track my progress, and we change things if need be."

Ms Ive attended and presented at the Alzheimer’s Disease International conference in London in June 2022, advocating for dementia-inclusive spaces and sharing her story of living with dementia.

One of the ongoing issues Ms Ive faces is people telling her that she doesn't 'look' like she has dementia. This means people assume that she doesn't need extra support in social settings, and ends up exaggerating the stereotypes and stigma surrounding dementia.

"Currently I have limited services and no specific dementia-inclusive activities such as dementia cafes or support groups in my local area," she told Aged Care Insite.

"People living with dementia are poorly represented in decision-making that directly affects them.

"Currently there is no council disability board. Who is representing people living with dementia and other disabilities?"

The National Dementia Hotline 1800 100 500, and more support services can be found here.

World Alzheimer's Day is held on September 21 every year as part of World Alzheimer's Month which is recognised annually in September.

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