The Dementia Momentum® is a movement to bring researchers and the corporate and philanthropic community together to change the future of dementia incidence.
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What is The Dementia Momentum®?
Dementia is one of the greatest health challenges of our time. However, we now have strong evidence that dementia isn’t inevitable - and it can be delayed or even prevented.
Backed by fresh findings from global studies and clinical trials, the message is clear: with the right investment, we can change the future of dementia.
This is where The Dementia Momentum® comes in.
Led by the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), this movement is about harnessing the power of big data research to uncover the risk and protective factors for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias - across different communities, cultures, and countries.
The Dementia Momentum® is more than a research initiative - it’s a call to action.
We’re inviting philanthropists, businesses, and the wider community to join us in driving change. Together, we can:
Invest in world-class, large-scale research
Promote equity in brain health across all populations
Shift the conversation from fear to hope and prevention
By supporting The Dementia Momentum®, you’re not just funding research - you’re backing a vision where more people live longer, healthier lives, free from dementia.
Join us and help power a movement that’s changing the trajectory of brain ageing for generations to come.
Why big data research matters
When it comes to understanding how we age and how to prevent dementia, big data holds the key.
At CHeBA, we've been following thousands of older Australians over time through our major studies:
Sydney Memory and Ageing Study
Sydney Stroke Study
Older Australian Twins Study
Sydney Centenarian Study
Maintain Your Brain
These long-running studies have already given us valuable insights into how memory, brain health, and overall wellbeing change with age. But to truly unlock the complex puzzle of dementia, we need to think bigger.
From local studies to global impact
Many researchers around the world are studying ageing in different populations. But often, these studies are done in isolation. That’s where CHeBA is leading the way, by bringing these groups together through international collaborations like:
COSMIC – over 50,000 participants
STROKOG – more than 7,000 stroke survivors
ICC-Dementia – over 5,000 participants globally
By pooling data across countries and cultures, we gain the power to:
Detect subtle risk factors that may not be visible in smaller studies (like grip strength, sense of smell, or nutrition).
Explore how dementia risk varies by age, sex, ethnicity, and other important traits.
3Confirm which findings are universal and which are unique to certain populations.
Build stronger, more accurate models for predicting and preventing dementia.
Running large-scale statistical analyses means we are better able to identify groups at risk and implement early intervention strategies to delay, reduce or even stop the progression of dementia.
Professor Perminder Sachdev
CHeBA Co-Director
Why your support matters
Big data research like this is powerful - but it’s also expensive.
To keep this momentum going, we need support. Philanthropic contributions help fund:
The expert teams who coordinate and analyse this vast data.
The technology and infrastructure needed to securely harmonise research across the globe.
New studies and innovative methods that push the science further.
Be part of the Momentum
The more we learn, the better we can tailor prevention strategies - not just for the general population, but for individuals based on their background, biology, and life experiences.
With your help, we can create a future where dementia is not just treatable, but preventable.
Join The Dementia Momentum® and help us make that future possible.
If you would like to make a contribution to support a specific area of research of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing or you are interested in regular giving, please contact Heidi Douglass on 0435 579 202 or email h.douglass@unsw.edu.au.
Wipeout Dementia is a fundraising event featuring surfing legends and property industry executives to support dementia research led by UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA).
