Hannah Fair

This research investigates how personality and loneliness influence the connection between social engagement and dementia risk, aiming to personalise prevention strategies. Using data from the ISLAND study, which tracks over 3,000 Tasmanians aged 50 and older, the project will explore how traits like extraversion and neuroticism affect the benefits of social engagement and how loneliness contributes to cognitive decline. The researchers will collaborate with ISLAND participants to co-design future studies that further examine these factors, ensuring that their lived experiences shape the research. Additionally, the project will equip the researchers to delve into social propagation—the spread of behaviours within social networks—and how it impacts dementia risk reduction, using advanced social network analysis techniques. 

By integrating insights from personality, loneliness, and social dynamics, this research aims to provide a starting point for refining dementia prevention messaging and developing more tailored interventions to help individuals and communities reduce their risk. 

Dr Hannah Fair is a lecturer in dementia for the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, at the University of Tasmania. She teaches about public health approaches to dementia care and prevention, and researches the role of social networks in promoting dementia risk reduction.