Measure 3.1: Improved knowledge among the general population and communities at higher risk of developing dementia about risk factors for dementia
While there are many non-modifiable risk factors for dementia (including ageing and genetics) there are many risk factors that people can modify to reduce their dementia risk (AIHW 2025). Readily available information on dementia risk and increased public awareness of risk factors can encourage people to take steps to reduce their risk of developing dementia. It is important to measure the level of knowledge people have around dementia risk and the actions they take to reduce this risk, to better understand whether there is adequate public awareness and available information.
Data are available from the Dementia Awareness Survey to track this measure.
Knowledge about dementia risk factors
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Indicator
Average dementia risk knowledge score among Australians.
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Baseline value
Average score of 11 out of 28 in 2023
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Latest value
Baseline value only
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Progress
To be provided in future updates
The Knowledge of Dementia Risk Reduction Scale (KoDeRR) measures people’s knowledge of evidence-based modifiable risk factors for dementia as well as common misconceptions. The knowledge of modifiable factors score can range from 0 to 28. A higher score means a higher level of dementia risk knowledge.
The desired outcome is that Australians have better knowledge about the risk factors of dementia, meaning this indicator should increase over time.
Change over time
Future updates of this report will track changes over time for this indicator.
In 2023, knowledge of dementia risk factors was statistically significantly higher among:
- women (compared with men)
- people with a Bachelor's degree or higher (compared with lower levels of education)
- people who had worked with people living with dementia (compared with people who had not)
- people who had a family member or friend with dementia (compared with people who did not)
- non-heterosexual people (compared with heterosexual people).
Further information can be found in the Dementia Awareness Survey findings.
Availability of information about reducing dementia risk
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Indicator
Proportion of Australians who agree that information about reducing dementia risk is easily available.
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Baseline value
53% agreed in 2023
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Latest value
Baseline value only
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Progress
To be provided in future updates
The desired outcome is that more Australians find it easy to find information about reducing dementia risk, meaning this indicator should increase over time.
Change over time
Future updates of this report will track changes over time for this indicator.
In 2023, the proportion of people who agreed that information about reducing dementia risk is easily available was similar across most population groups. It was 44% for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people and 53% for non-Indigenous Australians (Figure 3.1), but the difference was not statistically significant.
Figure 3.1: Percentage of people who agree that information on reducing their dementia risk is easily available, by Indigenous status, 2023
Bar chart shows percentage by Indigenous status.
These data come from the Dementia Awareness Survey (DAS).
The DAS was first run in 2023, surveying more than 5,400 Australian adults to understand general knowledge of dementia and dementia risk factors, and community attitudes towards dementia and people living with dementia in Australia.
Data are reported by population groups where data quality allows.
Comprehensive technical notes detailing survey methodology, questionnaire design, sampling, weighting and significance testing are available from the Dementia Awareness Survey technical notes and supplementary data tables.
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2025) Dementia in Australia AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 5 October 2025.