affect the risk of developing dementia provides evidence that preventative health strategies could reduce the future incidence of dementia. Research also demonstrates that the same strategies may help slow cognitive decline for people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. there is much interest in what other strategies might help to prevent or slow cognitive decline and dementia. The available evidence indeed supports benefits of healthy, active lifestyles at all stages of life. The evidence demonstrates that people who are more mentally, socially and physically active, who eat healthier diets, and who maintain healthy weight, blood pressure and cholesterol have better cognitive function and a lower risk of developing dementia. Conversely, smokers and those with diabetes have an increased risk. program is based on this evidence and aims to raise awareness that cognitive decline is not an inevitable part of ageing, that everyone can do something to reduce their risk, and that a life-course approach will reap the most benefit. Brain pathology that causes dementia develops from midlife and evidence is emerging that modifiable health and lifestyle factors influence this pathology. Evidence is also mounting that an active, healthy lifestyle and effective treatment of cardiovascular risk factors can benefit people diagnosed with dementia, helping to slow cognitive and functional decline. Looking after the brain, body and heart is essential to maintaining cognitive health for all of us. CONNECtiNg sERviCEs access to other services or professionals, rural people must find their own solutions to problems they encounter. Around the world, there are examples of innovative dementia care service initiatives in rural areas. However, these are often fragmented, neither shared nor known, but have potential for cross-contextual adoption, development and evaluation if being disseminated beyond local contexts. Worldwide engagement, however, requires a worldwide platform. Whilst there is a growing body of research focussing on rural dementia care, there is a need for instant access to evidence and best practice so that practitioners, educators, service commissioners, and academics can build on others work in their specific country or regional context. web-based pathway to connect rural dementia initiatives across the world and to provide evidence for rural services across countries to access and enable new and effective ideas to be used and applied for better outcomes |