Mind, Culture and Environment

Reconceptualising Dementia Research with Indigenous Peoples
By Susanne Röhr and Alison Canty

As dementia diagnoses continue to rise in ageing populations worldwide, there’s growing recognition that Western biomedical models may be too narrow. Western models often fail to reflect what life is really like for different groups of people, particularly Indigenous communities and how they see the world. 

In dementia research, Indigenous populations have often been underrepresented. Traditional models haven’t always considered the cultural and contextual factors that influence biological ageing and cognitive health.

The gap reflects a wider challenge: a lack of consideration for how factors may shape biological processes differently across diverse populations. These factors include;

• Sociocultural environments
• Historical trauma
• Physical environments

Indigenous traditional knowledge systems offer a broader perspective and valuable insights, emphasising the interconnections between body, mind, spirit, and environment. This holistic perspective has long been overlooked by Western medical paradigms. 

Research exploring cultural understandings has shown that place, encompassing both geographic and social contexts, plays a meaningful role in how dementia is experienced and managed.

The path forward involves ensuring Indigenous voices, worldviews, and knowledge systems are genuinely integrated into dementia research, policy, and care.

In Australia, promising initiatives such as ‘Let’s CHAT Dementia’, and ‘Good Spirit Good Life’ demonstrate how researchers and Indigenous communities across the country can collaborate to co-design culturally safe care that honours connection to both Country and community.

Recent policy and funding developments in Australia have also begun supporting the integration of Indigenous knowledge and perspective into national education programs for healthcare workers providing dementia care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Understanding a person’s environment can tell us so much about who they are. By championing this person-centred approach to dementia care, we can discover new ways to recognise signs of dementia earlier and ensure people receive the compassionate care they deserve.