January 18, 2023

dementia prevention – what does the evidence say about maintaining brain health and reducing risk?

The latest evidence suggests that up to 40% of all cases of dementia are linked to factors we may be able to influence ourselves, yet just a third of UK adults think it’s possible for people to reduce their risk. While new treatments are on the horizon, there is huge potential – right now – to make meaningful difference to people’s brain health through lifestyle changes.

Alzheimer’s Research UK brought together a panel of leading dementia researchers ahead of the next step in their Think Brain Health campaign. The charity’s new Think Brain Health Check-in (which launched on Wed 18 Jan) provides people with practical and targeted information based on their responses to questions about dementia risk factors. Panellist Prof Jon Schott was part of the expert advisory group for the project.

The briefing covered topics such as: who is at the greatest risk? Which lifestyle changes can have the greatest impact? What new risk factors are emerging from the latest research? What does the government need to be doing to support the brain health of the nation?

Speakers included:

Prof Jonathan Schott, Chief Medical Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK

Dr Sarah Bauermeister, Senior Scientist at Dementia Platforms UK

Prof Paul Matthews, Centre Director at UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial

Dr Charles Marshall, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Dementia in the Preventive Neurology Unit, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)