Forward with Dementia

12/06/2025

Check out this community presentation webinar with Dr Meredith Gresham Facing Dementia Together about learning the signs and symptoms of dementia, how to ask your GP and get support.

The Face Dementia community campaign ran in Western Sydney and Adelaide in 2023 and 2024. This webinar covers the same topics as the community presentations ...

11/06/2025

Our latest post explores how cooking can be a fun and purposeful pastime for people living with dementia and families. It also has the potential to boost brain health through a combination of physical, cognitive, and social engagement. 🥣

https://forwardwithdementia.au/news/cooking-up-a-storm/

Cooking can be a fun and purposeful pastime. It also has potential to boost brain health through a combination of physical, cognitive, and social engagement.

03/06/2025

Our Winter 2025 and final newsletter is now available with stories on cooking, kettle exercises, Facing Dementia Together launch, a new community presentation resource and a medication update.

You can read the newsletter via this link: https://mailchi.mp/unsw/forward-with-dementia-final-newsletter

This is our last Forward with Dementia Newsletter. We thank the hundreds of people who subscribed or wrote to us and to those who found the Forward with Dementia website a useful companion while navigating the perplexing weeks and months following a diagnosis of dementia.

Despite this being our last newsletter, the Forward with Dementia website is continuing!

25/02/2025

Many people with dementia retain the ability to sing in a choir despite cognitive loss. And being part of a choir promotes social connection and cognitive engagement. Find out about the benefits of singing in our latest post: https://forwardwithdementia.au/news/singing-the-praises-of-singing/

Singing in a choir or music group can benefit people living with dementia as well as their carers. It provides cognitive engagement, social connection and more.

19/02/2025

Our latest post summarizes the internationally significant results of the Maintain Your Brain study led by Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty UNSW Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing recently reported in Nature Medicine journal https://forwardwithdementia.au/news/maintain-your-brain/

The Maintain Your Brain internet-based coaching intervention led by Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty was designed to prevent cognitive decline over 3 years.

05/12/2024

Read Ann and Otto's story about dementia diagnosis and care, and how they found culturally appropriate support with Australian Multicultural Community Services (AMCS).

https://forwardwithdementia.au/news/finding-culturally-appropriate-support-after-diagnosis/

Australian Multicultural Community Services provides personalised support including culturally specific food and assisting people to pursue their interests.

04/12/2024

Despite approvals in overseas countries, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration declined to register Lecanemab in October this year. Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty explains why:

Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty's December 2024 update on Lecanemab which the Therapeutic Goods Administration declined to register for use in Australia.

04/12/2024

The Summer 🌞 newsletter is now available with stories on heat and dementia, finding culturally appropriate support, a medication update and more. Read it via https://mailchi.mp/unsw/forward-with-dementia-summer-2025-newsletter and subscribe for quarterly newsletters via the website: https://forwardwithdementia.au/subscribe/

28/11/2024

Our latest blog by Nikki-Ann Wilson from NeuRA - Neuroscience Research Australia explains how heath affects a person living with dementia, and provides a guide of how to support a person with dementia to better cope with heat and humidity this summer. 🌞
https://forwardwithdementia.au/news/how-to-best-survive-the-heat-and-humidity-this-summer/

Learn about how heat affects people with dementia and four ways to support them to cope with heat and humidity this summer.

05/09/2024

Occupational Therapists (OTs) provide invaluable support for individuals with dementia and their families. Find out more in our latest blog by Crystal O’Donnell, Occupational Therapist at Dementia Together: https://forwardwithdementia.au/news/what-can-an-occupational-therapist-do-for-you/

Occupational Therapists (OTs) offer a multifaceted approach that can support people living with dementia and families to navigate life after diagnosis.

01/09/2024

Our Spring Newsletter is now available with information on mild cognitive impairment, occupational therapy and the evaluation of dementia friendly communities project: You can read it here: https://tinyurl.com/bdnsdsfu

21/08/2024

The ‘Communities for Dementia’ research project is developing a framework and approach to support Dementia Friendly Communities to evaluate their impact. Read more about this important project in our latest blog:

Dementia Action Week (16 - 22 September) is fast approaching and this year's theme is "Act Now for a Dementia Friendly Future."