How to lower the risk of getting dementia

The condition isn't an inevitable part of ageing and there are several things you can do to reduce the chance of developing it.

- By CAMILLA FOSTER

CONNECTION: Regular catch-ups with friends or family can help

In light of the findings, Emma Taylor, information services manager at Alzheimer's Research UK, tells us if there is anything we can all do to lower our risk of dementia.

What risk factors can't we control?

Age is widely considered the biggest risk factor for dementia, and is something we are unfortunately unable to control.

"The older we are, the more likely we are to develop a disease that causes dementia, like Alzheimer's," says Emma. "One of the main reasons why age is such a big factor is that the diseases that cause dementia tend to take a long time to develop. In addition, our bodies naturally become a bit more vulnerable to damage as we age."

Specific genes can also play a role.

"Although only around 1% of dementia cases are directly inherited, some people do have risk genes, such as APOE4, which can increase their risk of developing dementia, but doesn't necessarily guarantee that we will get it," explains Emma.

What factors can we control?

"The 'Think Brain Health' campaign at Alzheimer's Research UK breaks brain healthy behaviours, that we can all do, down into three pillars," says Emma.

"The first pillar is all about loving your heart, because what's good for your heart is also good for your brain. The next pillar is all about staying sharp and the third pillar is about keeping connected."

Here are some ways to reduce your risk of dementia which align with these three pillars...