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Co-exploring dementia risk reduction from a planetary health perspective

Year:
2023
Duration:
24 months
Approved budget:
$150,000.00
Researchers:
Professor Fiona Alpass
,
Associate Professor Susanne Roehr
,
Professor Christine Stephens
Host:
Massey University
Health issue:
Ageing
Proposal type:
Explorer Grant
Lay summary
Dementia risk reduction focuses on individual health and lifestyle factors, e.g., physical activity, diet, social engagement, and cardiovascular disease management. However, interventions targeting such factors report no or small benefits for cognition. The reductionist emphasis on the individual without considering the environment misses crucial chances for effective dementia risk reduction. Importantly, with climate change, such isolated strategies are no longer appropriate. Therefore, objective is to co-explore enriched dementia risk reduction strategies from a planetary health perspective - the understanding that human health depends on flourishing natural systems and stewardship of these natural systems. How to shift the narrative from "good for the heart, good for the brain” to a holistic “good for the environment, good for the brain”? The project will utilize photovoice: Older citizen scientists photo-document their livelihoods, lifestyles and interactions with their environment to co-evaluate room for sustainable conditions and behaviors - good for brain and environment.