New Report Explores How Technology Could Help Unlock Dementia Prevention
A new report examining the role of technology in supporting brain health has found that while public awareness of dementia prevention is rising, many people still lack the confidence and tools to act on it.
The report, Unlocking Dementia Prevention: The Role of Technology in Supporting Brain Health, was produced by Alzheimer’s Society in collaboration with the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), Toronto Metropolitan University’s National Institute on Ageing, and the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance.
Drawing on insights from 2,090 adults aged 40 and over across the UK and Canada, the study explored what people understand about dementia prevention, the barriers preventing them from adopting brain-healthy behaviours, and how technology could help close the gap between awareness and action.
The research arrives amid growing evidence that up to 45% of dementia cases may be linked to modifiable risk factors, underlining the importance of helping people make and sustain healthy lifestyle changes.
A “knowledge-to-action gap”
The findings point to a clear disconnect between what people believe and what they feel able to do. While 68% of respondents agreed that dementia risk can be reduced, and 72% believed that action taken in midlife or earlier has the greatest impact, only 43% felt informed about how to reduce their own risk. Just 17% said they felt more than moderately confident in their ability to do so.
The report describes this disparity as a “knowledge-to-action gap,” in which awareness of prevention is not being consistently translated into meaningful, lasting behaviour change.
Where technology could help
The study found that the barriers standing in people’s way vary widely, from difficulties with motivation and disrupting established routines to more practical challenges around cost, access to services, and finding trustworthy guidance.
Rather than pointing to a single fix, the report suggests there is room for a broad range of innovations to support brain health, including digital tools, wearable technology and online platforms. Respondents identified potential for such tools to:
• Encourage physical activity and social engagement
• Support the management of chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure
• Provide access to trusted information and guidance
• Help people track progress and build sustainable habits
With 95% of respondents already using digital technology in their daily lives, the report argues there is significant scope for innovation to support dementia prevention at scale.
