No-one wants to be living with dementia. Keeping an active brain may reduce your risks and promote good cognitive health for longer.

With an increasing number of people living with dementia in Australia and around the world, research activities aim to understand how the brain works and look for ways to reduce or slow the risk of dementia. Across the globe, 10 million new cases of dementia are diagnosed each year.

We don’t have a cure for dementia and nor is there any options to guarantee prevention. But research is uncovering ideas on how to slow the progression of dementia and technology is looking at ways of helping people who are living with dementia to maintain independence for longer.

A healthy diet and social activity may help reduce your risks. Taking up a new activity to challenge your brain may also have positive results. New research from Monash University has found that “brain activities” such as crossword puzzles, chess, keeping a journal, using a computer and education classes may be effective at slowing the risk of dementia.

Passive activities and creative hobbies such as knitting, reading and painting may also be effective but the Monash University research found that brain activities produced more effective results.

The research found that people who engaged in these brain activities are around 10% less likely to develop dementia, compared to a 7% reduction for the more passive activities. So while these activities may not prevent you developing dementia but they may slow progression.

Now might be the time to join a chess club or start doing a daily crossword puzzle.

Dementia is a leading trigger for a move into residential aged care. The family home may no longer provide a safe environment for a person living with dementia and care activities may place a significant strain on the spouse or other family members. Activities that reduce the risks of dementia may help to keep you in your own home for longer, but a plan for how to fund care and what options you have available will help to reduce some stress and uncertainty, no matter what your health outcome.

If you want to talk about aged care and your options, call us today on 1300 855 849 to arrange an appointment.

_{IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This document has been prepared by Aged Care Steps Pty Limited, ABN 42 156 656 843 AFSL 486723, registered tax (financial) advisers (25581502) based on our understanding of the relevant legislation at the time of writing. While every care has been taken, Aged Care Steps Pty Limited makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of the contents. The information is of a general nature only and has been prepared without consideration of your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making any decisions, you should consider the appropriateness for your personal investment objectives, financial situation or individual needs. We recommend you see a financial adviser, registered tax agent or legal adviser before making any decisions based on this information. Current at 1 August 2023.}