Dementia: the top approaches experts use to protect themselves

UK dementia specialists describe personal habits they follow — including limiting alcohol, regular exercise, puzzles, outdoor activity and a microbiome-focused diet — and the article notes about 350,000 Britons are thought to have undiagnosed dementia.

Several UK dementia specialists describe personal habits they use to support brain health and to address known risk factors. Contributors include Gill Livingston, Paresh Malhotra, Richard Oakley, Tara Spires-Jones, Lucia Li, Tom Maclaren and Vanessa Raymont. The piece also outlines common early signs of dementia and references an Alzheimer's Society symptom checklist. Around 350,000 Britons are reported to have undiagnosed dementia. What experts said: - Gill Livingston said alcohol is a toxin that can affect memory and cause general brain shrinkage in excess; she described switching to smaller wine glasses and reports drinking about six to ten units a week. - Paresh Malhotra emphasised heart health and described running regularly, aiming for about four runs per week of five to eight miles. - Dr Richard Oakley said he does crosswords and Sudoku a few times a week and challenges himself with harder puzzles with his son. - Dr Lucia Li said she focuses on a diet that supports the microbiome, takes probiotic and prebiotic supplements, eats a wide range of vegetables and pulses, avoids ultra-processed foods and makes her own bread. - Dr Tom Maclaren described spending time gardening and walking in nature weekly and cited a recent UK study linking greater outdoor physical activity with lower risk of developing several types of dementia. - Vanessa Raymont said she is learning Spanish with a daily Duolingo lesson as a cognitive challenge. Summary: The experts' accounts highlight lifestyle choices they personally follow that relate to alcohol intake, cardiovascular fitness, cognitive challenge, outdoor activity and diet, and the article presents common early symptoms of dementia. Undetermined at this time.