Recent research has sparked global headlines suggesting the shingles vaccine may reduce the risk of dementia. But when a new study examining the same question reached a different conclusion, how should we interpret the evidence?

In this final episode of Series 1, Neil Broomfield welcomes back guest researcher Emeritus Professor James Vickers, to unpack the findings from a number of major studies, explore why their results differ, and discuss what this means for dementia prevention, vaccines, and brain health research more broadly.

This episode also marks the end of Series 1 of Brain Matters. We'll be taking a short break while we evaluate the podcast and explore ideas for the future. We'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions for Series 2 at island@dementia.utas.edu.au or by completing this short survey.

Thank you for listening and for joining us on our Brain Matters journey.

Brought to you by the ISLAND Project and Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania. To continue the discussion and for more information visit https://island.mooc.utas.edu.au.

Tell us what you have enjoyed, and what you would like to see more of, by completing this short survey: https://redcap.link/qgkcfcoy.

Sleep apnoea affects millions of people and is often associated with loud snoring, disrupted sleep and daytime tiredness. But could it also influence memory and dementia risk?

In this episode of Brain Matters, host Neil Broomfield speaks with sleep scientist Samantha Bramich about a recent Australian study that found people with obstructive sleep apnoea performed worse on memory tests and had a higher burden of dementia risk factors. Together, they unpack what the research found, explore possible links between sleep and brain health, and discuss why it's important to look beyond the headlines.

The conversation also covers common signs of sleep apnoea, current treatment options, and what this study can and cannot tell us about dementia risk.

Listen now to learn more about the role of sleep in brain health and why addressing sleep concerns may be an important step towards supporting your overall wellbeing.

Based on:

Article: Sleep Apnoea Tied to Memory Loss, Dementia Risk in Midlife

Paper: Associations of self-reported obstructive sleep apnea with cognition and dementia risk in cognitively unimpaired middle-aged adults

Brought to you by the ISLAND Project and Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania. To continue the discussion and for more information visit https://island.mooc.utas.edu.au.

Tell us what you have enjoyed, and what you would like to see more of, by completing this short survey: https://redcap.link/qgkcfcoy.

Can a computer-based brain-training program really reduce the risk of dementia?

In this episode of Brain Matters, host Neil Broomfield speaks with Dr Eddy Roccati about a recent headline claiming that specific cognitive training had an “astonishing” effect on dementia risk.

Together, they unpack the research behind the story — a long-term analysis of the ACTIVE study, which followed older adults for up to 20 years and found that one specific type of speed-of-processing training, when reinforced with booster sessions, was linked with a lower risk of diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

But does this mean all brain-training games prevent dementia? Not quite. Neil and Eddy slow down the headline, explore what kind of training was actually tested, discuss relative versus absolute risk, and consider what listeners should look for when judging brain-health claims in the news.

Based on:

New Scientist article: “Specific cognitive training has ‘astonishing’ effect on dementia risk”

Study: Impact of cognitive training on claims-based diagnosed dementia over 20 years: evidence from the ACTIVE study

Listener Reflection Questions

• Did hearing more about the study change how convincing the “brain training reduces dementia risk” headline felt to you — and why?
• Why does it matter whether a 25 per cent reduction is a relative reduction or an absolute reduction?
• What kinds of mentally stimulating activities do you already enjoy — and how do they fit into your wider brain-health habits?

Brought to you by the ISLAND Project and Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania. To continue the discussion and for more information visit https://island.mooc.utas.edu.au.

Tell us what you have enjoyed, and what you would like to see more of, by completing this short survey: https://redcap.link/qgkcfcoy.