Age Brightly, the Auckland-founded health service for older adults, today launches MindThrive, a structured three-month cognitive decline and brain health programme designed to catch the everyday factors that are often mistaken for the early signs of dementia.
Almost 70,000 New Zealanders currently live with dementia, a figure projected to almost triple by 2050 (Dementia Economic Impact Report commissioned by Alzheimers New Zealand). Yet a significant proportion of dementia risk comes down to modifiable factors – sleep, medications, cardiovascular health, hearing loss, depression and nutrient deficiencies – many of which are treatable when caught early (Lancet Commission, 2024).
MindThrive begins with a Baseline+ Assessment, then moves participants through a structured three-month programme addressing exactly these factors, before transitioning them either into an ongoing maintenance plan or, where appropriate, a formal dementia diagnosis and treatment plan.
“We built MindThrive because so many of the people who come to us worried about their memory don’t have dementia at all – they have a sleep problem, or a medication interaction, or hearing loss that’s gone unaddressed for years. Those things are fixable, but only if someone actually looks for them.” ~ Hannah McQueen, Founder, Age Brightly
“What we’re describing as cognitive decline is very often something else wearing a similar mask. MindThrive gives us a structured way to work through those masquerading factors systematically, rather than jumping straight to a diagnosis conversation that may not even be the right one.” ~ Dr Cheryl Johnson, Lead Geriatrician, Age Brightly
MindThrive launches as Age Brightly enters World Alzheimer’s Month with a free four-part webinar series, free Brain Health pop-up clinic in collaboration with Bay Audiology, and a Purple Morning Tea event in Auckland, all running throughout September.