Whether it’s more sleep or more exercise, simple lifestyle changes may reduce the risk of dementia. Now, a new program from the University of South Australia in collaboration with research partners at Onkaparinga Council and ACH group is helping older Australians make healthier choices to reduce their risk of dementia. Running over 12 weeks, UniSA’s ‘Small Steps’ program will support people aged 65 years and over to make small, incremental changes to their lifestyle choices to improve sleep, reduce sitting time and increase physical activity.
UniSA researcher Dr Catherine Yandell says the program hopes to provide participants with genuine insights into their sleep and movement as it relates to dementia risk. “Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle is essential to reduce the risk of dementia later in life, yet few older adults meet current activity guidelines, and even fewer continue them in the long term,” Dr Yandell says. “Part of the problem is that many programs are not individualized to support people to integrate new healthy behaviors into their daily lives.
“In our research, we found that people need access to evidence-based information and individualized support to help them make healthier choices about dementia risk factors. “That’s why we’ve worked with older adults to co-create ‘Small Steps’. This program is all about providing the support and motivation that older adults need to increase their activity, improve their sleep quality, an.
