Senior Australian of the Year Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty AO is backing a new initiative encouraging Australians to take action to reduce their risk of dementia.
Australians turning 50 are being encouraged to take simple steps to protect their brain health as part of a new federal government dementia awareness campaign informed by leading experts, including UNSW Sydney Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty.
Around 340,000 Australians who turned 50 between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026 will receive a letter outlining practical ways they can reduce their risk of developing dementia and stay healthy for longer.
Dementia is the leading cause of death in Australia. The government says almost 460,000 Australians are estimated to be living with dementia and that number is projected to reach 1.1 million by 2065.
Renowned clinician, researcher, policy advisor and co-director of UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) , Prof. Henry Brodaty, said Australia had an opportunity to apply the lessons of previous successful public health campaigns to dementia prevention.
“Australia has successfully tackled some of our biggest health challenges – from skin cancer and smoking to deaths from heart attacks. Now is the time to tackle dementia,” Prof. Brodaty said.
“The evidence is in. Successful international trials, including our Maintain Your Brain trial, show that addressing dementia risk factors can improve cognitive abilities and delay decline.
“We did ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ for skin cancer. Now let’s do it for brain health.”
Reducing dementia risk in midlife
The letter was produced in collaboration with leading dementia experts alongside world-leading research from the 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia .
It encourages Australians to eat a healthy diet and stay physically active, limit alcohol consumption, quit smoking, have their heart health and diabetes risk checked and keep their brains active. Recipients can also access a free personal risk assessment.
Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler said improving Australians’ understanding of these risk factors was an important part of the government’s response to dementia.
“Dementia is a national health priority for our government,” Minister Butler said.
“Growing evidence of risk factors for dementia shows that the disease can be prevented or delayed in around 45% of cases.
“That’s why we launched a campaign to help people better understand the risk factors, by sending a letter to every Australian when they turn 50.”
Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae said midlife was an important opportunity for Australians to consider their future brain health.
“Turning 50 is a great time to stop and think about your long-term health. These letters are a simple prompt to start a conversation every Australian should be having with loved ones and their doctor,” Minister Rae said.
“The science is clear that the choices we make in mid-life matter. Staying active, eating well and keeping on top of your heart health can help reduce your risk of developing dementia.”
Successful international trials, including our Maintain Your Brain trial, show that addressing dementia risk factors can improve cognitive abilities and delay decline.
Translating dementia research into prevention
Prof. Brodaty and researchers at CHeBA have been investigating how changes to lifestyle and health behaviours can help preserve cognitive function as people age.
Among this work is the Maintain Your Brain trial, which found that a personalised, internet-based program targeting multiple dementia risk factors resulted in significantly better cognition in older adults.
The trial was the largest online randomised controlled trial of its kind, involving more than 6100 Australians aged 55-77 with at least two modifiable risk factors for dementia.
After three years, participants who received personalised online coaching in physical activity, nutrition, cognitive training and mental health showed significant improvements in cognitive performance compared to those who received general health information alone.
The new government initiative reflects a growing emphasis on translating evidence about modifiable dementia risk factors into practical action well before symptoms emerge.
