• Dominique Paauw, Irene Heger, Jon Fiala Bjerre, Maria Fisker Ringgaard, Vita Stensgård, Dorothee Horstkötter, Sebastian Köhler, and Kay Deckers.
• Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
• Prev Med. 2024 Feb 1; 179: 107848107848.

ObjectiveIt is estimated that about 40% of all dementia cases are potentially attributable to modifiable risk factors, but awareness of this is relatively lacking.MethodsAn 18-months nation-wide public awareness campaign on dementia risk reduction was rolled out in Denmark that combined a mass-media approach with an online risk assessment tool and knowledge bank targeting all inhabitants aged between 40 and 75 years. Campaign effects (increase in awareness and knowledge of modifiable dementia risk and protective factors) were assessed via online surveys in two independent random samples before (n = 1003) and after the campaign (n = 1076).ResultsAfter adjusting for differences in educational level between the two samples, there was no significant difference in awareness of dementia risk reduction between the pre-campaign (66.5% aware) and post-campaign (63.4% aware) sample (probit z = -0.08, p = 0.151). The number of correctly identified risk/protective factors was significantly higher in the post-campaign sample. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, self-reported exposure to the campaign was associated with more awareness, better recognition of risk/protective factors, more motivation for and actual implementation of lifestyle changes.ConclusionsThis mass-media campaign did not increase overall awareness that dementia risk is partly modifiable. However, exposure to the campaign was associated with more awareness and willingness to take action to improve brain health. Future campaigns should tailor messages to specific subgroups to broaden the reach (e.g., males), co-create materials with the target group, and give special attention to the contribution of metabolic/cardiovascular risk factors to dementia risk.Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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