Reducing your chances of dementia
Use your brain
Your brain is like any other part of your body – use it or lose it. Play Sudoku, Bridge, Scrabble, do crosswords, word puzzles and other kinds of “brain games” to ensure your brain is active.
Exercise your body
Fifteen minutes of aerobic or resistance exercise per day, as well as flexibility and balancing exercises will keep your body healthy, which has a direct impact on the health of your brain. University of Melbourne research found recently that physical activity showed an improvement in cognitive function in participants.
Maintain a healthy diet 
Eat five servings of fruit and vegetables per day and reduce saturated fats. Omegas three and six, found in fish, are also good for the brain. Recent research from the University of California suggests eating turmeric, an orange spice found in some curries, may prevent the onset of dementia.
Drink less, quit smoking
Research in UK journal Alcohol and Alcoholism claims heavy drinking could be responsible for as many as one in four cases of dementia in the United Kingdom. Korsakoff's Syndrome is an alcohol-releated form of dementia.
Get social
People living with a spouse or partner in midlife are fifty percent less likely to develop dementia than those living alone, according to recent Swedish researchers. But that doesn’t mean marriage or partnership is the answer! Visit friends and family/whānau, volunteer, get involved in community activities and use social networking websites to keep socially active. Click here to join Alzheimers New Zealand's Facebook site.
