It’s never too early or too late to start reducing your dementia risk: Enrolments are now open for the free Preventing Dementia MOOC*

A series of lifestyle factors which affect the personal risk of getting dementia will be outlined in a free online course offered through the University of Tasmania – the Preventing Dementia Massive Open Online Course. It is estimated that these modifiable factors account for around 30% of dementia cases. This is your opportunity to separate fact from fiction and learn how you can reduce your risk.

Dr Shannon Klekociuk, one of the course developers and instructors said, “The course is open to everyone. We are particularly looking for people who may not be thinking about dementia right now, but could benefit from knowledge about how they might reduce their dementia risk. We want to help the community have the best quality of life they can - whatever your age, now is the time to start reducing your dementia risk”.

“In the four week Preventing Dementia MOOC, we teach participants what dementia prevention means, explain the risk factors, and discuss up to date evidence around the factors that increase or decrease our risk of developing dementia,” said Dr Maree Farrow, Senior Academic Lead for Dementia MOOCs. “They get to hear from worldwide experts in dementia research and epidemiology about how this evidence might help them reduce their risk of dementia.”

Worldwide, dementia affects nearly 50 million people. Deaths due to dementia more than doubled between 2000 and 2015, making it the 7th leading cause of death worldwide**. It’s becoming more and more important to consider how we live our lives and how we might be able to reduce our risk of developing dementia. Whilst age and genetics do play major roles in the development of diseases that cause dementia, current evidence suggests that approximately 30% of dementia cases may be preventable through the modification of various lifestyle factors.

Over 45,000 people have previously taken up the opportunity to enrol in this free course and learn about how they can reduce their dementia risk. Why not join them by enrolling in the next course starting in October 2018?

Examine the Evidence, Reduce your Risk – Enrol Today at https://mooc.utas.edu.au/landing/pdedma

The next Preventing Dementia MOOC runs from 2 October 2018 (with enrolments accepted until 12 October).

*A MOOC is a ‘massive open online course’.

**World Health Organisation, The top 10 causes of death http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs310/en/