Risk Factors

The Risk Factors Group studies risk factors for dementia from a lifespan perspective.

The group uses large-scale population-based studies, neuroimaging data, and epidemiological modelling to understand the risk factors for dementia across the lifespan. One of the main focuses of the Risk Factors Group is alcohol use, and its impact on brain health in foetal development, adolescence, and later life. The group has used longitudinal cohorts from CHeBA (the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study) as well as CHeBA’s consortia (COSMIC) to investigate the relationship between alcohol use and dementia in later life. In collaboration with the Global Burden of Disease Study, the Risk Factors Group is also using COSMIC data to better understand the contribution of a range of risk factors to mortality and morbidity associated with dementia globally. The Risk Factors Group also focuses on developing and evaluating novel online behaviour change interventions aimed at reducing risk factors that contribute to the development of dementia in later life.

Dr Louise Mewton

Group Leader

Staff

Virginia Winter
Sarah Davies
Rachel Visontay
Nicholas Hoy

Opinion Piece Launched Rethink My Drink

In November the Risk Factors Group launched Rethink My Drink, a world-first online study designed to help Australians aged 60-75 years consider their alcohol consumption and be guided to reduce their intake and help prevent dementia.

Low levels of alcohol use, between 1 and 7 standard drinks per week, are associated with small but significant changes in the brains of older adults, with heavy drinkers three times more likely to develop dementia. One large and influential study has even identified heavy drinking as the single most dangerous risk factor for dementia - when compared with other modifiable lifestyle risk factors.

Most recent evidence indicates that one in five Australians over 60 exceeds official guidelines of more than two drinks per day, putting themselves at risk of long term harm - higher than any other age group.

Leader of the Group, Dr Louise Mewton, said it is critical for Australians over 60 to be aware that heavy alcohol use is the strongest modifiable risk factor for dementia in comparison to such things as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.

The world-first study aims to determine whether an online alcohol brief intervention adapted for older adults can slow cognitive decline, while at the same time reduce alcohol consumption in older risky drinkers. https://cheba.unsw.edu.au/news/festive-seasonopportunity-address-alcohol-concerns

If you are concerned about your alcohol consumption and would like to participate in this study, register your interest at www.unswalcoholstudy.org.au

CHeBA-led Consortia

“By harnessing international studies into consortia to identify risk and protective factors, we are seeking to develop and validate strategies to delay or even prevent dementia.”