Almost half of dementia cases could be prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors such as physical inactivity, smoking, low education and social isolation, but new research from Curtin University suggests that current public health approaches are falling short of driving real behavior change.
Major international reviews published in Lancet Health and Longevity We found that while large-scale health awareness campaigns to prevent dementia have the potential to reach a wide audience, they often lead to only modest improvements in knowledge and limited changes in behavior.
This study analyzed public health campaigns and programs in eight countries and found that more engaging, personalized and community-led approaches are needed to have a real impact on behavior and reduce dementia risk.
Study author Professor Mario Siervo from Curtin University’s School of Population Health said the findings showed a clear gap between what people know and what they actually do.
“Up to 45 per cent of dementia cases are related to modifiable factors that we can change, such as lifestyle, health status and environment,” Professor Siervo said.
“But simply telling people what those risks are is not enough. Awareness campaigns are important, but they rarely lead to meaningful or lasting behavior change in and of themselves.”
Professor Siervo also said a second new study conducted by the group provided further evidence of the association of modifiable risk factors for dementia.
The results showed that muscle strength and body composition play an important role in dementia risk, highlighting the need for more targeted prevention approaches.
The Curtin-led study followed around 500,000 adults over 10 years and found that people with low muscle strength and excess body fat (known as sarcopenic obesity) were at higher risk of developing dementia.
In contrast, obesity itself was not associated with increased risk of dementia when muscle strength was preserved. This highlights the importance of muscle health, along with maintaining optimal body composition, in preventing dementia.
Co-author Professor Blossom Stephen, Professor of Dementia at Mr Curtin’s Enable Institute, said many people were still not aware that they could reduce their risk of dementia.
“While there is still a widespread belief that dementia is an inevitable part of aging, this is simply not the case,” Professor Stephan said.
“But even if people are aware of the risks, barriers such as time, cost and motivation can prevent them from making lifestyle changes.”
This review found that interactive approaches were consistently more effective than passive information campaigns in motivating people to change their lifestyles.
These include:
- Online educational program that guides people through practical steps to improve brain health
- Personalized risk assessment that shows how an individual’s lifestyle affects their dementia risk
- Community-based programs delivered by trusted local figures such as fellow educators, health professionals, and community leaders
Professor Siervo said such an approach was likely to engage people and support lasting behavioral change.
“When people understand their own personal risks and are given clear and practical ways to act, they are more likely to make meaningful change, especially through trusted community networks,” he said.
Examples of effective approaches include community education sessions led by local leaders, culturally tailored programs delivered in familiar settings, and interactive courses that help participants set realistic health goals.
Professor Stephen said future public health strategies should go beyond just raising awareness and focus on long-term efforts.
“We need to combine broad public messaging with targeted support to help people take action,” she said.
“That means investing in programs that are accessible, culturally relevant, and designed with communities, not just serving them.
“Dementia rates are expected to rise significantly in the coming decades, and prevention is one of the most powerful tools we have, but to get there we need to rethink how we communicate risks and help people cope with them.”
Population-level interventions for dementia prevention: a systematic review Published in Lancet Health and Longevity.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.lanhl.2026.100869
