New Year’s resolution: make your brain matter!

Ms McCabe claimed many people were not aware that modifiable lifestyle factors might impact on a person’s risk of developing dementia.

“We now know that being physically active, looking after our heart, and participating in mentally challenging activities may help to reduce our risk of dementia,” she said.

“In fact, research suggests that up to half the cases of Alzheimer’s disease worldwide are potentially attributable to health and lifestyle factors that we can change.”

Alzheimer’s Australia’s brain health program, Your Brain Matters, is an evidence based program to guide people on what they can do to live a brain healthy life and reduce their risk of dementia.

There are five steps a person can adopt to maximise their brain health and in turn, reduce their risk of dementia.

“Look after your heart, be physically active, challenge your brain, eat brain healthy food and enjoy social activity,” Ms McCabe said.

“Now is a great time to set yourself some goals for the New Year – what better way to start than with a brain healthy lifestyle.”

Here are some tips to start the New Year with a brain-healthy lifestyle:

Look after your heart – what’s good for your heart is good for your brain

The risk of developing dementia appears to increase as a result of conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels, particularly when these occur at mid-life.

Be physically active – exercise gives the brain a healthy boost

Regular physical exercise is associated with better brain function and reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Physical exercise increases blood flow to the brain, stimulates the growth of brain cells and connections between them.

Mentally challenge your brain – the brain likes to tackle something it doesn’t know

Scientists have found that challenging the brain with new activities helps to build new brain cells and strengthen connections between them. This helps to give the brain more “reserve” or “back up” so that it can cope better and keep working properly if any brain cells are damaged or die.

Follow a healthy diet – what you eat could affect the brain

Evidence suggests that a healthy, balanced diet may help in maintaining brain health and functionality but more research is needed to understand if there are specific foods that may be able to reduce the risk of dementia.

Enjoy social activity – socialising is good for the brain

Social engagement has been found to have benefits for other health factors related to cognitive functioning such as vascular conditions and depression. It is mentally stimulating and may contribute to building brain reserve which then contributes to a lower dementia risk.

Your brain matters – download the free brain health app, BrainyApp, available on Apple and Android devices. For more tips and information about brain health and how to reduce your risk of dementia, visit www.yourbrainmatters.org.au