15 key lifestyle changes to protect your brain 

Researchers say it’s not all down to genetics and there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing dementia

Muscle loss in later life can lead to higher levels of inflammation and accelerate age-related cell damage in the brain. Picture: Stock image 

WE used to think that dementia was a cruel twist of fate. The condition was largely associated with malfunctioning genetics causing people’s brains to deteriorate drastically as they aged, leading to problems with memory, thinking, language, and the ability to carry out everyday tasks.

Science is now telling us otherwise. While genetics and other uncontrollable factors are still recognised as significant factors in why some people develop dementia, two major new research reviews show that lifestyle also has an important role to play.