Background Positive health beliefs and attitudes towards dementia and dementia risk reduction may encourage adopting a healthy behaviour. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the knowledge, health beliefs and attitudes towards dementia and dementia risk reduction among the Dutch general population and its association with the intention to change health behaviours. Methods A random sample of Dutch residents (30 to 80 years) was invited to complete an online survey. We collected data on knowledge, health beliefs and attitudes towards dementia (risk reduction) and the intention to change health behaviours. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to obtain effect estimates. Results Six hundred fifty-five participants completed the survey. In general, participants had insufficient knowledge about dementia and dementia risk reduction. Participants had relatively high scores on general health motivation and perceived benefits, but low scores on perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived barriers, cues to action and self-efficacy. Individuals with higher scores on perceived benefits and cues to action had more often the intention to change their behaviour with regard to physical activity (OR = 1.33, 95%-CI:1.11–1.58; OR = 1.13, 95%-CI:1.03–1.24, respectively) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.30, 95%-CI:1.00–1.69; OR = 1.17, 95%-CI:1.02–1.35, respectively). Younger excessive alcohol consumers with higher perceived severity scores had more often the intention to change their alcohol consumption behaviour (OR = 2.70, 95%-CI:1.04–6.97) compared to older excessive alcohol consumers. Opposite results were found for middle-aged excessive alcohol consumers (OR = 0.81, 95%-CI:0.67–0.99). Individuals who perceived more barriers had more often the intention to change their diet (OR = 1.10, 95%-CI:1.01–1.21), but less often the intention to change their smoking behaviour (OR = 0.78, 95%-CI:0.63–0.98). Moreover, less educated individuals with higher perceived benefits scores had less often the intention to change their diet (OR = 0.78, 95%-CI:0.60–0.99), while highly educated individuals with higher perceived benefits scores had more often the intention to change their diet (OR = 1.41, 95%-CI:1.12–1.78). Conclusions The knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards dementia and dementia risk reduction among the Dutch general population is insufficient to support dementia risk reduction. More education about dementia and dementia risk reduction is needed to improve health beliefs and attitudes towards dementia and dementia risk reduction in order to change health behaviour.

Background: This study aimed to translate and validate the Motivation to Change Lifestyle and Health Behaviours for Dementia Risk Reduction (MCLHB-DRR) scale in the Dutch general population. Methods: A random sample of Dutch residents aged between 30 and 80 years old were invited to complete an online questionnaire including the translated MCLHB-DRR scale. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) were conducted to assess construct validity. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess internal consistency. Results: Six hundred eighteen participants completed the questionnaire. EFA and Cronbach's alpha showed that four items were candidate for deletion. CFA confirmed that deleting these items led to an excellent fit (RMSEA = 0.043, CFI = 0.960, TLI = 0.951, χ 2 /df = 2.130). Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.69 to 0.93, indicating good internal consistency. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated that the Dutch MCLHB-DRR scale is a valid scale for assessing health beliefs and attitudes towards dementia risk reduction among Dutch adults aged between 30 and 80 years old.

ObjectiveIndividuals with a parental family history (PFH) of dementia have an increased risk to develop dementia, regardless of genetic risks. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between a PFH of dementia and currently known modifiable risk factors for dementia among middle-aged individuals using propensity score matching (PSM).DesignA cross-sectional study.Setting and participantsA subsample of Lifelines (35–65 years), a prospective population-based cohort study in the Netherlands was used.Outcome measuresFourteen modifiable risk factors for dementia and the overall Lifestyle for Brain Health (LIBRA) score, indicating someone’s potential for dementia risk reduction (DRR).ResultsThe study population included 89 869 participants of which 10 940 (12.2%) had a PFH of dementia (mean (SD) age=52.95 (7.2)) and 36 389 (40.5%) without a PFH of dementia (mean (SD) age=43.19 (5.5)). Of 42 540 participants (47.3%), PFH of dementia was imputed. After PSM, potential confounding variables were balanced between individuals with and without PFH of dementia. Individuals with a PFH of dementia had more often hypertension (OR=1.19; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.24), high cholesterol (OR=1.24; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.30), diabetes (OR=1.26; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.42), cardiovascular diseases (OR=1.49; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.88), depression (OR=1.23; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.41), obesity (OR=1.14; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.20) and overweight (OR=1.10; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.17), and were more often current smokers (OR=1.20; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.27) and ex-smokers (OR=1.21; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.27). However, they were less often low/moderate alcohol consumers (OR=0.87; 95% CI 0.83 to 0.91), excessive alcohol consumers (OR=0.93; 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98), socially inactive (OR=0.84; 95% CI 0.78 to 0.90) and physically inactive (OR=0.93; 95% CI 0.91 to 0.97). Having a PFH of dementia resulted in a higher LIBRA score (RC=0.15; 95% CI 0.11 to 0.19).ConclusionWe found that having a PFH of dementia was associated with several modifiable risk factors. This suggests that middle-aged individuals with a PFH of dementia are a group at risk and could benefit from DRR. Further research should explore their knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards DRR, and whether they are willing to assess their risk and change their lifestyle to reduce dementia risk.