Healthed Australia Dementia risk reduction: The GP's midlife window - Part 1
Aug 7, 2025
Kaarin Anstey, a leading researcher from the UNSW Ageing Futures Institute, dives into crucial midlife risk factors for dementia. She discusses the impact of depression on cognitive decline and advocates for early intervention through personalized care. The CogDrisk tool emerges as a pivotal resource for healthcare professionals in tailoring risk management strategies. Insights from the Maintain Your Brain study reveal the importance of addressing female-specific dementia risks, highlighting the need for better support and innovative public health strategies.
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Midlife Is A Critical Window
- Midlife is a critical window because vascular, hormonal and lifestyle changes emerge that affect brain health.
- Managing these midlife changes offers the best chance to reduce later dementia risk.
Actively Treat Vascular And Lifestyle Risks
- Manage vascular risks with your GP: control hypertension, cholesterol and type 2 diabetes actively.
- Also address lifestyle factors like physical activity, diet, sleep and treat depression as part of dementia prevention.
Depression Has Independent Dementia Links
- Depression links to dementia through complex pathways beyond lifestyle impacts.
- The mechanism is unclear but associations persist after adjusting for other risk factors.