MindCare Collective

24/09/2025

🧠 Can Lifestyle Changes Protect Brain Health?

The US POINTER Study followed more than 2,000 older adults at risk of dementia to see if healthy lifestyle changes could improve memory and thinking skills.

Participants were split into two groups:
✅ A structured program with regular exercise, a balanced diet, brain-training, social activities, and heart health monitoring
✅ A lighter, self-guided program

📊 After two years, the structured group showed greater improvements in memory and thinking than the self-guided group.

While modest, these findings suggest that a combination of exercise, diet, mental challenges, and social engagement in a structured way may provide extra benefits for brain health.

🔗 Read more about the POINTER study here: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2837046

18/09/2025

With dementia now the leading cause of death in Australia, this year’s Dementia Action Week (15–21 September), led by Dementia Australia, carries the theme “Nobody can do it alone.”

This theme reminds us that dementia affects not only the person living with the condition and their immediate carers, but also families, friends, and the wider community. People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds are often even more vulnerable due to additional barriers to care and support.

On this occasion, we encourage everyone to take the opportunity to:
📑 Learn more about dementia
💞 Challenge the stigma that surrounds it
🫂 Consider how each of us can help build a more supportive and inclusive community

👉 Explore practical tips and dementia resources for multicultural communities at https://www.mindcare.org.au/

16/09/2025

🧠 Dementia is one of the greatest health and social care challenges of our time. But growing evidence shows that prevention and risk-reduction strategies can make a real difference.

This webinar, coordinated by Dementia Australia and La Trobe University, will feature Professor Naaheed Mukadam (University College London), who will share insights from the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care.

📌 Discover how addressing modifiable risk factors can reduce dementia risk at both individual and population levels.
📌 Hear the latest evidence from the NIHR Dementia & Neurodegeneration Policy Research Unit (DeNPRU-QM) on how best to engage the public in dementia prevention.

📅 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST | Tuesday 30 Sep 2025
📍 Online
🔗 Get your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/preventing-dementia-insights-from-the-lancet-commission-tickets-1658107948509

Don’t miss this chance to hear from a global expert. Register today!

15/09/2025

A big thank you to our partner Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria for their collaboration and support in advancing dementia prevention and healthy ageing in CALD communities 💜

Stay tuned for more upcoming workshops!

ECCV is proud to partner with La Trobe University and MindCare Collective on a national digital health program raising awareness in multicultural communities about lifestyle factors that can reduce the risk of developing dementia in our diverse communities.

This month, ECCV organised a weekend workshop with Pasifika community members to review the resources and provide feedback on cultural relevance, clarity, and feasibility.

“I feel lucky to be involved with this 3-year research project”, says ECCV Ageing Well Leader Hayat Doughan, who organised the Saturday session. “The research’s goal is to help multicultural communities access information and resources to improve their lives.

But is also about how we engage. The consultation process was an example of best practice, valuing participants’ time, knowledge and lived experience, making it easy for them to contribute meaningfully”.

Thanks to lead researcher Professor Bianca Brijnath and her La Trobe team for developing this important project.

09/09/2025

✨ Last week, our team had the privilege of attending the Premier’s Multicultural Gala Dinner 2025 - a night of unity, inspiration, and celebration of diversity.

At MindCare Collective, we are proud to stand with communities across Australia, championing , , and . Like the Gala, our work reflects the richness of collective contributions as we co-design dementia programs that are culturally relevant, in-language, and community-led.

Together, we are building a brain-healthy and inclusive future for all. 💜

📸 Photo 1 (L–R): The Premier of Victoria, the Honourable Jacinta Allan; Professor Bianca Brijnath; and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt MP. from Victorian Multicultural Commission.
📸 Photo 2 (L–R): Associate Professor Josefine Antoniades; Ms Dilnaz Billimoria and Professor Bianca Brijnath.

01/09/2025

🌏 MindCare Digital Community Workshop 🧠

Last week, together with the Multicultural Communities Council of SA, we hosted two community workshops to gather feedback for the MindCare Digital program.

MindCare Digital is an online program co-created with South Asian, Middle Eastern, Sub-Saharan African, and Pacific Islander communities to make dementia prevention more accessible. The program shares culturally relevant, easy-to-follow tips for brain health, including:

✅ Eating well
✅ Staying active
✅ Staying connected
✅ Managing health conditions
✅ Sleeping better
✅ Drinking less alcohol
✅ Caring for your hearing

Stay tuned as we continue co-designing with communities across Australia.

👉 Learn more about MindCare Digital https://www.mindcare.org.au/about-us/our-projects/mindcare-digital

26/08/2025

Facing Dementia Together is a campaign led by Prof Lee-Fay Low at the University of Sydney to support earlier dementia diagnosis in Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese communities in Southwestern Sydney.

👉👉👉Explore and share their multilingual resources.
https://facingdementiatogether.au/en/

🧠 Understand the facts about dementia

Get clear, practical answers based on evidence, not fear.

✅ Learn the difference between common myths and real signs
✅ Support someone you care about
✅ Feel more confident talking about dementia

📄 Download the facts & myths sheet (PDF) in one click:
�https://facingdementiatogether.au/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/2025_03_06-Facing-Dementia-Together_Common-Myths_EN.pdf

🌏 Available in English, Arabic, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.

20/08/2025

This week’s :

👉 Cook one new brain-healthy dish!
Leafy greens, legumes, oily fish, nuts and colourful veggies are all great for your brain.

✨ Bonus: Share a photo of your dish and tag us + use so we can celebrate with you.

💬 Comment below: What brain-healthy recipe are you trying? And which culture is it from?

15/08/2025

⁉ ANSWER
The real early signs of dementia are:

1️⃣ Memory loss that disrupts daily life
3️⃣ Difficulty planning or solving problems
4️⃣ Trouble completing familiar tasks
6️⃣ Confusion about time or place
7️⃣ Changes in mood or personality

💡 Remember: Dementia is not a normal part of ageing. If you notice these signs, speak with a GP or healthcare professional early.

13/08/2025

🧠 🧠
Can you spot the real early signs of dementia?
We’ve listed 8 signs — 5 are real, 3 are not.

1️⃣ Memory loss that disrupts daily life
2️⃣ Forgetting where you put your keys occasionally
3️⃣ Difficulty planning or solving problems
4️⃣ Trouble completing familiar tasks
5️⃣ Sudden craving for sweets
6️⃣ Confusion about time or place
7️⃣ Changes in mood or personality
8️⃣ Needing reading glasses

💬 Drop your 5 picks in the comments — answers revealed soon!