title: A qualitative study of older and middle-aged adults' perception and attitudes towards dementia and dementia risk reduction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate perceptions of dementia and dementia risk reduction held by people without dementia.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Dementia does not only affect individuals with dementia, but also has an impact on family and friends, society and healthcare professionals. Recent research has identified modifiable risk and protective factors for dementia. However, it is unclear what knowledge people without dementia have about these risk factors and their attitudes towards addressing these risk factors to achieve dementia risk reduction are not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative descriptive study using focus group methodology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A focus group study was conducted in February 2011 with 34 older adults aged between 52-90 years. The long-table approach was used to identify themes and categorize data on dementia knowledge, risk and attitudes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants correctly identified dementia risk factors as a group. Participants' responses about their perceived likelihood of developing dementia could be classified into three distinctive themes; fear, rational and cynical perceptions. Both fear of developing dementia and the need to improve dementia knowledge were considered major motivators towards adopting healthier lifestyle and health behaviours. Lack of knowledge on risk factors for dementia was identified as a major barrier for behavioural and lifestyle change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings can be used to develop effective and personalized interventions that increase motivators and reduce barriers by tailoring interventions to individual's dementia risk reduction literacy and motivations to change behaviours. Greater public-health promotion and education about risk and protective factors for dementia are also necessary to increase dementia health literacy and to reduce overall dementia prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Well-being, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Well-being, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Kerry A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sargent-Cox
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Well-being, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Kaarin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Anstey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior
keywords: Australia; barriers; behaviour change; dementia; focus groups; healthcare service users; motivations; nursing; risk reduction