Brain check-up tool aims to cut dementia risk at any age

People of all ages are being encouraged to do more to take care of their brains to try to reduce their risk of dementia.

A new brain check-up tool from Alzheimer’s Research UK offers tips on staying sharp, connecting with others and keeping active.

Research suggests there are 12 risk factors for dementia which, if modified, could stop four in ten people developing confusion, memory loss and communication problems.

Advice based on these risk factors is to do regular exercise, stop smoking, challenge your brain and cut back on alcohol, and experts say it is never too early or too late to start doing it.

The brain check can be used by anyone, to find out how to lower their individual risks of dementia, but it is particularly aimed at adults aged 40 – 50, because this is seen to be an important window for taking action to look after brain health.

Professor Jonathan Schott, chief medical officer at the charity, said it would “provide a practical and easy means to allow people to take action to reduce their risk of dementia”.

But he added that only a third of people realised that was possible, which needed changing.

Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said “With 40% of dementia cases potentially being preventable, there’s an enormous opportunity to reduce the personal and societal impact of this heart-breaking condition.

“It’s time for the nation to wake up to the idea of brain health and how looking after our brains can reduce the risk of dementia.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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