You can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s by leading a healthy life. It’s never too late to start!

• Avoid smoking and excessive drinking
• Keep an eye on your weight and maintain a balanced, vegetable-rich diet
• Incorporate exercise into your daily routine
• Stay mentally fit. A higher level of mental activity can reduce your risk
• Maintain social ties
• Improve your ability to handle stress and avoid things that trigger stress

The greatest risk factor for developing dementia is age. In particular, the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is also increased by a genetic predisposition.

So if you lead a healthy life, exercise regularly, socialise and have your eyesight, hearing loss, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels treated, then you have already done a lot to reduce your personal risk of dementia. According to the Lancet Commission, an active lifestyle can prevent or delay the onset of dementia by as much as 45%.

The 14 risk factors include:

• impaired hearing
• high cholesterol levels
• social isolation
• low education
• depression
• head injuries
• air pollution
• lack of exercise
• type 2 diabetes
• visual impairment
• smoking
• high blood pressure
• severe obesity
• excessive alcohol consumption