Parks, crime, and dementia risk

Researchers at the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) and Monash University have found that people who live in areas with lower rates of crime and better access/shorter distances to parks had fewer dementia risk factors.

Lower rates of crime were also linked to better memory.

Parkland can offer protection from the harmful effects of air pollution, a dementia risk factor, and provides opportunities to exercise and socialise with others in the community – things that are important for keeping the brain healthy.

In contrast, high rates of crime can make people feel unsafe, which may make it less appealing to go outdoors to exercise or socialise, and may contribute to higher levels of stress, poor sleep and unhealthy coping behaviours such as smoking or drinking high amounts of alcohol – all things which can have negative impacts on the brain.

Regardless of where you live, you can reduce your risk of developing dementia by:

• limiting exposure to air pollution, smoking and head injuries

• preventing or getting help from a health provider for diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, depression and hearing loss

• getting enough social interaction, physical activity, mental activity and good quality sleep.

People from multicultural communities may not be receiving messages about reducing dementia risk, and are often not included in research or other efforts to reduce dementia risk in the community.

Information about dementia risk needs to be culturally adapted, and in some cases translated, to make it relevant and meaningful to Australia’s multicultural communities so that everyone can take steps to reduce dementia risk.

NARI researchers began this process in 2021, when they culturally adapted and co-produced ADAPT, a dementia prevention animation series, in 10 languages.

Building on this work, the NARI team are now working on the MindCare education project, which will be developed with Arabic- and Hindi-speaking, Greek, and Vietnamese communities across the country.

Delivered by community educators, the project aims to improve knowledge of modifiable lifestyle factors that can reduce the risk of developing dementia, and give people the tools to take charge and improve their own health.

The study is led by NARI’s Dr Josefine Antoniades who is working in partnership with community-based organisations across the country, including ECCV, Umbrella Multicultural Community Care (AWA), Multicultural Aged Care (SA), SydWest Multicultural Services and South Western Sydney Local Health District (NSW).

As figures continue to increase, it’s more vital than ever that dementia education is inclusive of non-English speaking communities.