Funded by a grant from , the Healthy Brain, Healthy Life聽public engagement project aims to create dialogue and engage with minority ethnic communities around brain health and dementia.
The goal is to increase knowledge around brain health and the positive steps people can take to improve their brain health and reduce their risk of dementia.聽
The project team use traditional food, music, storytelling and other creative approaches in a exploring brain health. Through the workshops, we will also co-create digital stories and culturally tailored resources, such as recipes, to reach wider minority ethnic audiences.
A on Wednesday 26 April 2023 shared聽experiences of聽the project, information about the workshops and their impact, and showcased the outputs created by project participants.聽聽
Why are we doing this project?
Despite national strategies including the NHS Dementia prevention strategy and the dementia profile on preventing well, there is still a disconnect between healthy lifestyle practices, brain health and dementia, particularly for individuals from minority ethnic communities.
Unlike other long-term conditions which manifest physically, conditions related to brain health and dementia are difficult to talk about and people may attribute causes to spiritual factors, old age, or mental illness. There is a need for initiatives that reduce stigma, create dialogue and learning around the topic area鈥
Minority ethnic community member聽
Watch our digital stories
![Dr Sophia Amenyah Dr Sophia Amenyah](/sites/default/files/styles/bournemouth_-_1_1__square_xlarge/public/assets/images/Sophia%20Amenyah.jpg?itok=x-ghG2hq)
Dr Sophia Amenyah
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
"This project will be a conversation starter and encourage discussions with minority ethnic communities about the broad impacts of dementia and empower people to improve their attitude towards brain health and dementia.鈥
What are we doing?
We held a series of around five themes to share knowledge and talk about brain health and dementia prevention. The workshops were open to individuals from minority ethnic communities and were all held in person on 裸聊直播's campuses.
The workshops
Our traditional food and our community - healthy eating for brain health
Creating with our hands 鈥 expression through art
Music, movement and mind 鈥 keeping active
Stimulating the brain - improving our memory and brain function
Our culture and brain health, storytelling around the fire
Sharing our learning
Digital stories, poems, recipes and other artefacts co-created with participants, best practice guidance and other resources from the workshops will be shared widely via our networks, websites, social media, publications and training events to optimise reach and further engage the wider community.聽