Healthy brain aging refers to addressing and understanding risk factors for developing conditions like dementia. Activities that support healthy brain aging may exist in the physical, mental, and social domains.

In contrast, Western perspectives on dementia focus on ‘cognitive decline’ characterized by issues with memory, reasoning, and problem-solving, categorized into types such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia based on causes like injury or disease.

Indigenous-centered dementia care are approaches to dementia care that prioritizes the needs, values, and cultural practices of indigenous populations, ensuring that care strategies are culturally relevant and respectful.

This includes tools and methods used to assess cognitive decline that are tailored to the specific cultural context of the individuals being evaluated. These may include adaptations in language, visual elements, and metaphors to ensure relevance and accuracy for indigenous populations

Factors that contribute to the onset or progression of brain aging within Indigenous communities, such as social isolation, substance use, trauma, and stress, as well as urbanization.

Conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes. In Indigenous contexts, these may include factors like land rights, cultural practices, and community cohesion.

Reference: Global Brain Health Institute. (2025). Dementia prevalence and dementia risk in Indigenous Peoples: recent findings, current developments, and future directions. Retrieved from https://www.gbhi.org/news-publications/dementia-prevalence-and-dementia-risk-indigenous-peoples-recent-findings-current

The body of knowledge, know-how, practices, and representations maintained and developed by Indigenous peoples over generations, often transmitted orally. This knowledge is crucial in understanding and addressing dementia within Indigenous communities.

Reference: Indigenous Awareness Squared. (2023). Indigenous Perspectives on Dementia. https://iasquared.org/brain-health/