Lets CHAT- (Community Health Approaches To) Dementia in Indigenous Communities

The population of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (hereafter respectfully referred to as Indigenous Australians) is growing, and the proportion aged over 65 years is projected to nearly double by 2026 (1). Older Indigenous Australians play a crucial role in the health of their communities, including holding the cultural rights and responsibilities for maintaining connections to Country, caring for extended family members, and providing leadership and support in their families and within communities (2). Although there are many examples of Indigenous elders ageing well (3), landmark research performed by this team over the last 15 years, has documented a high prevalence and incidence of dementia and its precursor Cognitive Impairment Not Dementia (CIND) in Indigenous Australians living in urban, rural and remote regions of Australia (4) (5).
Rates are up to 3-5 times those seen in the non-Indigenous population, with onset at younger ages, and heavily influenced by potentially modifiable risk factors such as head injury, cardiovascular disease and stroke (4). This is in contrast with international research, demonstrating that dementia rates in some developed nations have decreased in the last 3 decades. There is clear potential for improvement with preventive interventions (6).