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How to lower dementia risk: five things to do, from ditching red meat to reading and playing chess

  • New research has found that people can lower their risk of dementia by up to 60 per cent by making improvements in five areas of their lives
  • Even making one better choice in the five areas – diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption and cognitive stimulation – can make a big difference

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Researchers were not surprised that leading a healthier life decreases the chance of dementia, but were stunned by the magnitude of the effect. Photo: Alamy

Here’s a to-do list for preventing dementia, new research suggests: ditch red meat, take a brisk walk to the grocery store, do the Sunday crossword and stick to one glass of wine at dinner.

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A study presented on Sunday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Los Angeles found that combining five lifestyle habits – including eating healthier, exercising regularly and refraining from smoking – can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by 60 per cent.

A separate study showed that lifestyle choices can lower risk even for those who have a genetic predisposition to the disease.

The report, compiled by the Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago, tracked 2,765 individuals over about a decade.

Researchers say that, as with heart disease, combating dementia will probably require a “cocktail” approach combining drugs and lifestyle changes.

All participants were older adults enrolled in either the Chicago Health and Ageing Project (CHAP) or the Rush Memory and Ageing Project (MAP) – both federally funded, long-term observational studies that examine mental decline among ageing Chicago residents.

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