Dementia: Update on causes and prevention, including the role of COVID-19

Tuesday, September 13th, 2022 | cooju60p | 3 Comments

Prof John Potter* 

Dementia is steadily increasing worldwide with major individual, family, societal, and economic consequences. This long-read blog details how, although treatment is currently largely ineffective and aspects of the underlying pathophysiology unclear, there is good evidence that much of it is preventable. In particular measures overlap with those for: preventing cardiovascular disease and diabetes (e.g., diet, physical activity, control of obesity); preventing head injuries (e.g., from falls and traffic injuries); advancing alcohol control; and, it is becoming increasingly clear, preventing respiratory infections (e.g., vaccination against influenza and COVID-19).  

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Public Health Solutions Series: Stemming the tide of cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand

Thursday, September 8th, 2022 | cooju60p | 1 Comment

Jason Gurney*

This blog is part of the Public Health Solutions series looking at effective public health measures to reduce demand on healthcare quickly. This blog looks at solutions to reduce cancer: action on tobacco products; reducing infectious diseases and focusing on system level solutions. 

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Public Health Solutions Series: Mental health services can’t solve a mental health crisis: public mental health priorities in Aotearoa

Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 | cooju60p | 1 Comment

Ruth Cunningham*

This blog is part of the Public Health Solutions series looking at effective public health measures to reduce demand on healthcare quickly. This blog looks at solutions to improve mental health: increasing benefit levels, increasing physical activity, drug and alcohol legislation reform and employment support for those with mental illness. 

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Public Health Solutions Series: Improving the cost, composition and availability of foods can save lives

Thursday, September 1st, 2022 | cooju60p | No Comments

Cristina Cleghorn, Sally Mackay *

This blog is part of the Public Health Solutions series looking at effective public health measures to reduce demand on healthcare quickly. This blog looks at solutions in the food system: reducing the cost and increasing the availability of healthy food and reformulation of processed food.

Image by Spike Elliott-Jones
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Public Health Solutions Series: Two Injury Prevention Strategies to Reduce Pressure on the Health System

Tuesday, August 30th, 2022 | cooju60p | No Comments

Prof Nick Wilson* 

This blog is part of the Public Health Solutions series looking at reducing pressure on the health system of Aotearoa NZ – this blog briefly considers raising alcohol taxes and further lowering the drink driving limits. There is good scientific evidence supporting both these measures and if political leaders explained the health and economic benefits – majority public support for such measures is quite plausible. 

Image by Luke Pilkinton-Ching, University of Otago

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