Alzheimer Without Myths: An Interactive Community Program Addressing Misconceptions and Promoting Brain Health Behaviors

Background
Misconceptions about Alzheimer's, such as inevitability with age, genetic determinism, or lack of preventive actions, hinder early detection and risk reduction efforts. We have designed a program that addresses these gaps through expert-led interactive sessions, delivering rigorous science to diverse community audiences."Alzheimer without Myths" (Alzheimer sin Mitos) is an innovative interactive outreach program designed to debunk common myths about Alzheimer's disease and promote evidence-based prevention in the general population.

Methods
Delivered by an expert with wide clinical and research experience, each 75-minute talk presents 10 key statements on Alzheimer's pathology, diagnosis, treatment, genetics, and prevention. The audience votes using visual response-colored cards (true-green/false-red/partly-amber), enabling real-time assessment of beliefs. The speaker offers scientific explanations and the most accurate response for each statement. The talk is followed by 30 minutes of Q&A and a standardized brochure summarizing evidence-based facts. Conducted in community settings across Spain since inception. All program materials —including visual identity, slides, and the take-home brochure— are designed following structured guidelines to ensure consistency, clarity, and scientific accuracy. After attendance, participants receive an online questionnaire evaluating satisfaction.

Results
In 2025, 5 sessions reached 900 attendees (general public, caregivers, seniors). Team observations indicate persistent myths around "senile dementia as normal" (myth 6), genetic inevitability (myth 9), and impossibility of prevention (myth 10). High engagement noted via participation and Q&A volume. From 334 questionnaire responses gathered, satisfaction was consistently high: overall event 4.88/5 (91.6% rated 5); recommend to others 9.6/10 (91.3% rated 9-10); content usefulness 4.85/5 (99% rated 4-5); speakers' clarity 4.93/5 (92.8% rated 5); duration adequacy 4.80/5 (98.1% rated 4-5).

Conclusions
"Alzheimer without Myths" demonstrates feasibility of scalable, interactive myth-busting formats to enhance public literacy on dementia risk factors and modifiable behaviors. High satisfaction supports expansion as a community-based risk reduction strategy and wide provision of rigorous and understandable information to sensibilize and empower society. Future plans include pre-post knowledge assessments to quantify impact.