Dementia is the leading cause of death in Australia. Yet despite its prevalence, little is known about whether rural and regional Australians are more likely to develop the condition than their city counterparts.
The first study of its kind, Re-ACTIVate will assess modifiable dementia risk factors among older rural people, then co-design a practical prevention toolkit tailored to the needs of rural and regional communities.
The new study builds upon UniSA’s landmark ACTIVate research which found that how older people spend their time can affect their cognition and brain volume.
Lead researcher and cognitive ageing expert, Associate Professor Ashleigh Smith, says the study will directly compare dementia risk factors and brain health between rural and urban adults.