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ObjectiveTo foster a national dialogue on addressing dementia as an emerging public health problem and formulating a strategy for developing Vietnam's national dementia plan.MethodsIn September 2018, the Vietnamese National Geriatric Hospital supported by University staff in Australia and the United States organised the first Vietnam National Dementia Conference in Hanoi.ResultsOver 270 Vietnamese dementia stakeholders and international dementia experts participated in the conference. The participants agreed dementia was a public health priority in Vietnam and identified the need for the development of Vietnam's national dementia plan. Policymakers supported positioning dementia as a priority in the national health agenda. Research institutions created collaboration to generate scientific information for policymaking process. Funding and international supports were obtained to develop Vietnam's national dementia plan.ConclusionStrong leadership, stakeholder engagement and international support are critical in raising awareness and advocating for the development of Vietnam's national dementia plan.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and safety of StandingTall—an individually tailored, progressive exercise program delivered through tablet computers—in community‐dwelling older people with dementia. Methods: Fifteen community‐dwelling older people with dementia (mean age = 83 ± 8 years; Montreal Cognitive Assessment 16 ± 5) received StandingTall for 12 weeks with caregiver assistance. Feasibility and safety were assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS; scores = 0‐100; a priori target >65), Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES‐8; scores = 8‐56), adherence (exercise minutes) and adverse events. Results: Mean SUS scores were 68 ± 21/69 ± 15 (participants/caregivers). The mean PACES‐8 score was 44 ± 8. In week 2, week 7 and week 12, mean (bias‐corrected and accelerated 95% CI) exercise minutes were 37 (25‐51), 49 (30‐69) and 65 (28‐104), respectively. In week 12, five participants exercised >115 minutes. One participant fell while exercising, without sustained injury. Conclusions: StandingTall had acceptable usability, scored well on enjoyment and was feasible for participants. These results provide support for further evaluation of StandingTall in a randomised controlled trial with falls as the primary outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this assessor-blinded, randomised controlled trial was to determine the effect of computerised cognitive training (CT) on executive function, processing speed and working memory in 61 people with mild-to-moderate dementia., Methods: The primary outcomes were forward Digit Span and Trail Making Tests (TMT) at the completion of the 6-month intervention. Secondary outcomes included cognitive and physical performance, rate of falls, participant and caregiver's quality of life and usability and adherence to the CT program. The study was registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12617000364370)., Results: Intervention group (n = 31) participants averaged 81 min of CT per week, and system usability scores were acceptable (participants: 68.8 ± 22.1; caregivers: 79.4 ± 23.5). There were no statistically significant differences in cognitive or physical performance outcomes between the intervention and control groups at 6- or 12-months (between-group differences [95% CI] for primary outcomes at 6-months: Forward Digit Span -0.3 [-0.8, 0.3]; TMT-A 2.7 s [-14.1, 19.5]; TMT-B -17.1 s [-79.3, 45.2]). At the 12-month follow-up reassessment, the intervention group reported significantly more depressive symptoms and had lower caregiver-rated participant quality of life and higher caregiver quality of life compared to control., Conclusions: This study showed no benefit of the CT program on working memory, processing speed and executive function. Future studies are required to better understand how CT can be used to improve cognitive and physical functioning in older people with mild-moderate dementia., (© 2024 The Authors. Australasian Journal on Ageing published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of AJA Inc’.)