Overview

• A trial of CHeBA’s Maintain Your Brain program found that tailored online coaching in physical activity, nutrition, cognitive training and mental health delayed dementia onset by more than a year
• Researchers reported no significant increase in per-person costs because participants in the coaching group used fewer healthcare resources, offsetting program expenses
• The study, published in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease, tracked over 6,000 Australians aged 55 to 77 across three years
• Leading scientists argue dementia poses an economic crisis and say a national prevention campaign modelled on past public health initiatives could save billions
• Experts are urging the Australian Federal Government to fully fund and scale up its 2024 National Dementia Action Plan with targeted risk-reduction programs and patient navigation support