Journal article
Advancing brain health equity with Indigenous peoples: A critical imperative
Alzheimer's & dementia, Vol.22(2), e71125
02/01/2026
DOI: 10.1002/alz.71125
PMCID: PMC12933636
PMID: 41738518
Abstract
Indigenous communities hold rich knowledges, cultural practices, and kinship networks that sustain cognitive resilience and nurture brain health across the life course. Yet these enduring strengths are often obscured by biomedical models that overlook the structural determinants of health-including the cumulative effects of colonization, educational inequity, and socioeconomic disadvantage-that diminish brain health. Accordingly, dementia disproportionately affects Indigenous populations globally, often presenting with earlier onset and higher prevalence compared to non-Indigenous groups. This perspective synthesizes the current epidemiological evidence, situates dementia risk within its structural and historical context, and explores how Indigenous knowledges, cultural continuity, and community leadership can inform dementia research and care more broadly. Our global insights call for a decisive shift: to decolonize dementia research and policy and move beyond deficit-based narratives toward approaches that prioritize Indigenous leadership and culturally grounded, strengths-based pathways to brain health equity. HIGHLIGHTS: This perspective synthesizes global evidence on dementia epidemiology among Indigenous populations, examining structural determinants and Indigenous perspectives on brain health and dementia care. Structural inequities and the enduring legacies of colonization, rather than biology alone, underpin the disproportionate dementia burden among Indigenous peoples worldwide. Centering culture, kinship, and connection to land and community reframes brain health beyond biomedical models and reveals cultural resilience as a powerful neuroprotective resource. Key recommendations call for Indigenous leadership and locally tailored, culturally grounded approaches to advance lifelong brain health equity and develop strengths-based models of dementia care.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Advancing brain health equity with Indigenous peoples: A critical imperative
- Creators
- Antonia J Clarke - Monash UniversityCliff Whetung - University of Minnesota Medical CenterAstrid Suchy-Dicey - Boston UniversityAdrienne Withall - UNSW SydneyKylie Radford - UNSW SydneyDiane C Gooding - University of Wisconsin–MadisonLouise Lavrencic - UNSW SydneyMakarena Dudley - University of AucklandDina Lo Giudice - The University of MelbourneLeon Flicker - The University of Western AustraliaArantxa Sanchez Boluarte - Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaSulakshna Aggarwal - Maulana Azad Medical CollegeKyle R Conniff - University of Wisconsin–MadisonAmy G Brodtmann - Monash UniversityMonica M Diaz - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillStéfanie A Tremblay - Montreal Neurological Institute and HospitalEmmanuel S Nwofe - University of BradfordCarey E Gleason - Wisconsin Division of Public HealthKristen Jacklin - University of MinnesotaJoseph Keawe'aimoku Kaholokula - University of Hawaiʻi at MānoaChontel Gibson - Department of Health and Aged CareJuliana Souza-Talarico - University of IowaPamela Roach - Alberta Health ServicesAlzheimer's Association Intermission 2025: Stronger Together Collaboration
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Alzheimer's & dementia, Vol.22(2), e71125
- DOI
- 10.1002/alz.71125
- PMID
- 41738518
- PMCID
- PMC12933636
- NLM abbreviation
- Alzheimers Dement
- ISSN
- 1552-5279
- eISSN
- 1552-5279
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Grant note
- 75N92019D00028 / NHLBI NIH HHS U54GM138062 / National Institutes of General Medical Sciences R01 AG054059 / NIA NIH HHS R36 AG078781 / NIA NIH HHS K23MH131466 / NIMH NIH HHS Avant Research Foundation R01 AG062307 / NIA NIH HHS IDSMB Dementia Australia Research Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship Universidad Cesar Vallejo
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/01/2026
- Academic Unit
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Nursing
- Record Identifier
- 9985143126402771
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