Abstract
As Aotearoa New Zealand's population ages, the number of people living with dementia is expected to double in the next 20 years – a major health and economic issue. Since age is the biggest risk factor for dementia and there's currently no cure, there is a need to focus on reducing risks for dementia. The Lancet Commission recently reported that 45% of dementia cases worldwide could be prevented by tackling 14 key risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and lack of physical activity. In NZ, the potential for prevention is even greater, especially for Māori and Pacific communities, who face higher rates of these risk factors. However individual lifestyle change is only a very incomplete answer. These risks often begin early in life, are linked to social disadvantage, and are more common in areas with higher poverty. A broader population-level, whole-of-government approach is required to address the health inequities associated with poverty and social disadvantage. Dementia in Aotearoa NZ, disproportionately affects Māori and Pacific peoples Age is the greatest risk factor for dementia. Based solely on population ageing, the number