Unpacking Dementia. Can We Prevent It?

Dementia affects at least 450,000 Australians, and that's just the ones we know about. It's the second most common cause of death in the country.

Around 1.7 million people are involved in caring for someone with the condition. 

But is it preventable? And if you get a diagnosis, what happens next?

In this episode, you'll meet one of Australia's leading dementia experts, Professor Velandai Srikanth.

You'll learn:

• What dementia is (and what it isn't) and why forgetting where you put your keys is probably not it
• Why prevention starts at midlife, not old age
• Myth-busting dementia prevention: what's the impact of things like turmeric, Sudoku, alcohol and video games?
• What to do when a loved one with dementia ends up in hospital
• Why giving hope to people diagnosed with dementia is so important.

Guest: Professor Velandai Srikanth, Geriatrician and Director, National Centre for Healthy Ageing

Hosts: Tracy Parish & Dr Taya Collyer

Links & References:

• Dementia Australia
• Lancet Commission (2024) Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission
• Nature Medicine (2025) An online multidomain lifestyle intervention to prevent cognitive decline in at-risk older adults: a randomized controlled trial Maintain Your Brain RCT
• University of the Third Age Australia
• NCHA Living Labs Research Program
• NCHA Community and Resources Hub
• NCHA Healthy Ageing Resources

Disclaimer: Tracy and Taya are not medical doctors. This episode is based on research, but it's not medical advice. Please talk to your GP for advice tailored to you.

Produced by Miniature