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Anthea Rowan

This is the 88th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope.
I have lost count of the number of times somebody has said to me, during a conversation on dementia, “Oh, it runs in my family.”
Like red hair. Or long fingers.
The only type of Alzheimer’s disease that really does is familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD). It is caused by mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PSEN1) and presenilin 2 (PSEN2) genes.
These are dominant mutations, so each child of an affected parent has a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the genes. If they do, their risk of developing Alzheimer’s, usually at a young age, is high. Symptoms usually show in a person’s forties or fifties.
Mercifully, FAD is very rare – it accounts for less than 1 per cent of all Alzheimer’s cases.
There could be more than 100 risk genes associated with greater susceptibility to the disease. But Professor Alison Goate at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, who was part of the team that identified the APP gene, says their impact is quite small.
The exception is an APOE4 allele – a version of a protein called APOE, or apolipoprotein E.
APOE’s primary role is to ferry cholesterol and fats around the body. We are inclined to think of cholesterol as all bad. But that is not the case; every cell in our body needs cholesterol for a host of functions. Cholesterol is only a negative thing when it is degraded or oxidised, or when there is too much low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), which is the “bad” sort.
APOE versions and the risks they carry
We all carry a version of APOE – any one or a combination of three variants, one from each parent.
APOE2 is rare; only about 7 per cent of the population carries this type. It is thought to offer protection against Alzheimer’s disease. About 70 per cent of the population carries APOE3. It is considered neutral – it confers neither benefit nor risk. APOE4, which around 25 per cent of people carry, comes with a higher risk for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Kevin Tran, a doctor of pharmacy born to Chinese parents and raised in France, says people who carry the APOE4 gene variant account for about 70 per cent of all late-onset Alzheimer’s cases.
If you carry one APOE4 allele, often referred to as the Alzheimer’s gene, your Alzheimer’s risk is two to three times greater than that of someone who does not. If you carry a pair, one from each parent, your lifetime risk of Alzheimer’s is 12 to 16 times greater.
You might have heard of APOE4 in the context of the actor Chris Hemsworth, who carries a pair of these alleles – described as APOE4/4 – which explains his advocacy for brain health and which drove his Disney+ series Limitless.

Tran himself also carries a pair. He believes that his Asian heritage could put his risk as much as 33 times higher than someone with a pair of APOE3 alleles from low-risk ethnic groups, such as Hispanics and Africans. Asians and Caucasians have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s and of developing symptoms earlier if they carry the APOE4 allele.
Tran knew little about APOE4 before he discovered his status, which anyone can learn through at-home genome testing kits such as 23andMe or CircleDNA.
After his mother died of cancer, Tran had genetic tests to assess his own risks for the disease. He was shattered when he received his results.
For three months afterwards, he was paralysed by anxiety. He suddenly imagined his memory was worse than it had been, a psychological response to the results, he says now.
Friends told him to live his best life and not to think about his APOE4 status, but Tran likens his mentality at the time to being unable to enjoy a train ride because he knew there could be a broken bridge ahead. He began exploring lifestyle interventions that could potentially lower his risk.


Reducing risk with lifestyle adjustments
He began to learn everything he could about what carrying the APOE allele – especially two – might mean, and radically changed the way he lived.
He went from working too hard, not sleeping enough, occasionally drinking too much and rarely going to the gym, to substantially cutting alcohol, becoming mindful of his diet and working out at the gym daily.
He is a leaner, fitter, sharper version of his old self, he says, and no longer prediabetic. That is significant, as insulin resistance can drive dementia risk, too.
Tran, who lives between Singapore and San Francisco, has brought together a group of engaged and energetic APOE4 carriers committed to their brain health. The Phoenix Community platform aims to drive the science to support trials on Alzheimer’s interventions, especially those on APOE4.
Despite being dubbed the “Alzheimer’s gene”, it is important to understand that APOE4 is simply another modifiable risk that you can do something about.
It is not deterministic in the same way as the genes that cause FAD. You might carry the APOE4 allele and never develop dementia. You might not have it and develop dementia.

There is substantial evidence that, while APOE4 seems to be a risk accelerant – it amplifies the risk that comes with, for example, poor diet, lack of exercise or high cholesterol levels – it also means any positive lifestyle intervention has significant payback in terms of reduced dementia risk.
Research has found that people who carry APOE4 and have untreated high blood pressure may have a more than tenfold higher risk of developing cognitive decline – often a precursor to Alzheimer’s – compared with non-APOE4 carriers with high blood pressure; their risk is a little over twofold.
Treating APOE4 carriers with antihypertensive drugs, though, has the potential to bring their risk down to less than twofold.
Studies on the impact of the Mediterranean diet are encouraging: APOE4 carriers on this diet have risk reductions several times larger than non-carriers.
Tran is an advocate of lifestyle changes to manage dementia risk. The benefits, of course, do not just extend to the brain but also minimise the risk of many metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases that contribute to dementia risk, irrespective of your genes.
Having good sleep, a healthy diet, regular exercise and stress management, and avoiding toxins such as cigarette smoke, too much alcohol and heavy metals, are 90 per cent of how to protect your brain, he says.
You do not need special supplements or wellness biohacks. You just need to live well for your brain 95 per cent of the time. You can relax a little for the other 5 per cent, Tran says, “because being happy is very important for your brain too”.
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Wellness

What carrying the ‘Alzheimer’s gene’ like Chris Hemsworth means and how to reduce risk

Chris Hemsworth famously carries a pair of APOE4 gene alleles, which makes his risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease significantly greater than non-carriers. A doctor who also carries two APOE4s explains how lifestyle changes can significantly affect the development of the condition. Photo: Instagram/chrishemsworth

Chris Hemsworth in a still from Limitless. Photo: Disney+

Kevin Tran, who carries a pair of APOE4s, says lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline for carriers of the “Alzheimer’s gene”. Photo: Instagram.com/dr.kevintran

Are you ageing well? 5 simple tests to get a picture of your biological age

The “flamingo” test - balancing on one leg - is one of the ways you can assess how well you are ageing. Photo: Shutterstock

Hand grip strength, an “indispensable biomarker for older adults”, is measured with a dynamometer. Photo: Shutterstock

How cooking can help lower your dementia risk – even just 1 meal a week

A recent study suggests that cooking at home, even once a week, lowers a person’s dementia risk. Photo: Shutterstock

Anthea Rowan’s mother enjoys a mug of tea she prepared herself. Photo: Anthea Rowan

Grocery shopping usually involves social interaction and other types of cognitive stimulation. Photo: Shutterstock

Psychologist Ritu Verma says home cooking supports the three pillars of dementia prevention: a healthy diet, physical activity and good brain health. Photo: Dr Ritu Verma

Are ice baths good for you? What you need to know before taking the plunge

Cold-water immersion such as ice baths and cold plunges are said to come with a host of health benefits, but one possible cultural counter-current in Hong Kong could be traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories. Photo: Shutterstock

Andrew Collins, founder of The Ice Bath Club, sees a cold plunge as a way of building resilience. Photo: Instagram/theicebathclub_hk

Members of Australia’s men’s rugby sevens team soak in ice baths following practice in the midday heat at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Photo: AP

Collins says if you are not ready for a cold plunge, you can start with cold showers. Photo: Instagram/theicebathclub_hk

How to prevent dementia, and 10 things to ask a doctor to help safeguard your brain health

Doctors should be able to answer your questions about dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Having regular social interaction is one of the ways to reduce the risk of dementia as we age. Photo: Shutterstock

Sleep and dementia are linked, research suggests. A University College London study of people in their fifties and sixties found that those who got less than seven hours a night were at greater risk. Photo: Shutterstock

Studies show poor mental health can increase the risk of dementia later – even decades later – in life. Photo: Shutterstock

There is a plethora of research that suggests regular exercise significantly reduces the risk of dementia, so it is recommended to stay active. Photo: Shutterstock

Talk to your doctor about medication, for example if you struggle to afford it or are not sure whether you are taking it as prescribed. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Decoding dementia

How caring for a parent with dementia taught me about symptoms, prevention and why seeking out the latest research is so important

Author Anthea Rowan (right) with her mother.

Author Anthea Rowan (right) with her mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia. Photo: Anthea Rowan

Anthea with her mother. Photo: Anthea Rowan

Studies suggest that regular exercise lowers the risk of cognitive decline by 35 per cent. Photo: Getty Images

Staying active can help prevent or delay the onset of dementia, studies suggest. Photo: Shutterstock

Why should you have a brain scan to test for dementia when there’s no cure? Knowing can help you delay its onset, neurologist says

It can be daunting to get a brain scan to test for signs of dementia, but a neurologist behind new research reveals the advantages of knowing early. Photo: Shutterstock

New research has found that dementia can be detected as early as nine years before symptoms manifest, and this could have significant implications for treatment. Photo: Shutterstock

Timothy Rittman, the neurologist who led the dementia research at Cambridge University. Photo: Cambridge University

A brain scan showing signs of dementia. Photo: Getty Images

Lizzie Perry, founder of This is Dementia, with her father, who was diagnosed with the disease at 58. Photo: This is Dementia

The approval in the US of a new drug that slows the onset of Alzheimer’s makes Rittman hopeful about the future of dementia treatment. Photo: Cambridge University

Why women are more likely to have dementia than men as they age, and how exercise and engagement can help lower your risk

Women may be at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s than men for a number of reasons: biological, societal or cultural. Experts suggest exercise and social engagement can help offset the risk. Photo: Getty Images

The spread of tau – the protein that clumps into the telltale tangles of dementia – may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Photo: Shutterstock

Female twins with a male co-twin were less likely to be diagnosed with dementia than female twins with a female co-twin. Photo: Shutterstock

Prenatal care and monitoring pregnant women’s health is key, as it may impact cognition and dementia risk in later life. Photo: Shutterstock

Taking regular exercise is key for women – and men – to reduce the risk of dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

How high or low blood pressure increases the risk of dementia, and why it’s never too late, or early, to adopt a healthy lifestyle to manage it

Having blood pressure that is too high or too low has been linked to a higher risk of dementia, but it’s never too late to start living a healthy lifestyle that will help maintain optimal blood pressure. Photo: Shutterstock


An optimal blood pressure reading, easily measured with a home device, is around 120/80. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Ruth Peters was lead author of a study looking at the links between blood pressure and dementia. Photo: Dr Ruth Peters

It’s never too late, or too early, to start thinking about brain health and living a healthy lifestyle. Photo: Shutterstock

Problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory and other thought processes may result from damage caused by impaired blood flow to the brain – which may be brought on by high blood pressure. Photo: Shutterstock

6 dementia fighting tips from Dr Sanjay Gupta and Marc Milstein, experts on brain health – walk, talk, read, learn, relax, and eat and drink properly

We can protect ourselves against the risk of dementia with some simple lifestyle practices. Exercising (above), eating a good diet, drinking less alcohol, socialising, reading more and trying new things all help keep the brain sharp, say brain experts including Dr Sanjay Gupta. Photo: Shutterstock 

The cover of one of Dr Sanjay Gupta’s book. Photo: Simon & Schuster

The cover of Marc Milstein’s book. Photo: Marc Milstein

Drink alcohol mindfully and ask yourself why you are having that drink. Photo: Shutterstock

Learning new things creates new brain cell connections and helps keep your mind sharp. Photo: Shutterstock

Reading is good for brain health. Try to read a wide range of book styles, and join a book club to discuss with others what you are reading. Photo: Shutterstock

During sleep, our brains are restored and repaired, so relaxing is important if we’re going to get those seven hours of quality sleep. Photo: Shutterstock

Relationships keep us engaged, interested and interesting, and may help prevent dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

‘Like a light switch’: how sundowning syndrome affects dementia sufferers – and their carers; what it is and tips for how to cope

A person with dementia may experience “sundowning” syndrome - towards the end of the day they become more agitated, confused, panicked, resistant to instruction and restless. This affects their carers, too. Photo: Shutterstock

A person in bed, unable to sleep. Conservative estimates suggest about 20 per cent of dementia patients experience sundowning at some point.

Trey Todd is a neuroscientist at the University of Wyoming. Photo: Trey Todd

Sundowning was coined in 1987 by Lois Evans of Penn Nursing at Pennsylvania University. Photo: University of Pennsylvania

The pineal gland in our brain produces melatonin, which is what helps prompt us to sleep and awaken. In a broken system it is disrupted. Melatonin supplements might help fight sundowning. Photo: Shutterstock

Taking a patient with sundowning syndrome for a walk at a consistent time each day, morning or evening, may alleviate symptoms. Photo: Shutterstock

Getting out into the daylight early in the day is good for our sleep patterns, whether we have dementia or not. Photo: Shutterstock

Healthy marriage, healthy mind? Dementia risk lower for people married a long time, studies show; expert suggests why

Research suggests that people who have stayed married for a long time have a lower risk for dementia because they feel less lonely, are more likely to eat well and exercise more, and are more cognitively engaged. Photo: Shutterstock

Vegard Skirbekk is a researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Photo: Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Anthea Rowan’s parents on their wedding day. Photo: courtesy of Anthea Rowan

A long-time married partner represents a security that provides a buffer against stressors. Photo: Shutterstock

Anthea Rowan and her husband on their wedding day. Photo: courtesy of Anthea Rowan

If you live with a partner long term, you are more likely to develop healthy daily patterns, to eat well and exercise more. Photo: Shutterstock

‘Dementia village’ that’s the first of its kind helps residents live normal lives, has a restaurant, theatre and supermarket – and no one wears a white coat

Residents are free to live their lives as they like at the world’s first “dementia village”, The Hogeweyk in The Netherlands. Photo: The Hogeweyk

The Hogeweyk, a “dementia villlage” in the Netherlands, provides care and a familiar and safe environment in which people with dementia live while retaining their own identity and autonomy as much as possible. Photo: The Hogeweyk

Jannette Spiering is the senior managing adviser and co-founder at The Hogeweyk in the Netherlands, which offers “humanising care for people with dementia”. Photo: The Hogeweyk

Residents relax around the fountain in the theatre square at The Hogeweyk. Photo: The Hogeweyk 

Residents of The Hogeweyk respond positively to their increased autonomy. Photo: The Hogeweyk

Residents at the healthcare facility take part in a painting class. Photo: The Hogeweyk

Hearing loss dramatically raises the risk of dementia, so why are so many people in midlife doing nothing to prevent it? A test is easy to arrange

Hearing loss has been linked to a higher risk of dementia and cognitive decline,  say experts, who recommend testing for preventable hearing problems (above).  Photo: Getty Images

Alison Huang, a senior research associate at the Cochlear Centre at Johns Hopkins, in the US, says hearing loss makes the brain work harder to process sounds. Photo: Johns Hopkins

Jiang Fan from the School of Public Health at China’s Shandong University. Photo: Shandong University

Checking your hearing in midlife is crucial, and can help you stave off cognitive deterioration. Photo: Shutterstock

Can HRT reduce dementia risk? New hormone replacement therapy studies say yes, upending 2002 reports

HRT use has been linked to better cognition, blood flow and brain size and a reduction in all neurodegenerative disease in recent studies. Photo: Shutterstock

HRT (hormone replacement therapy) use has been linked to better cognition, blood flow and brain size and a reduction in dementia and other neurodegenerative disease in recent studies. Photo: Shutterstock

If HRT is started after the age of 65, brain cells will have already been deprived of oestrogen for many years. This could mean there is a decline in neuronal connections – the brain’s messaging system. Photo: Shutterstock

HRT was found to be most effective when introduced early in menopause, says Anne Marie Minihane, director of the UK’s Norwich Institute of Healthy Ageing at the University of East Anglia. Photo: University of East Anglia

Dr Andrea Kwakowsky from at the University of Galway in Ireland believes the “critical period” for starting HRT is within five years of menopause. Photo: University of Galway

How can you prevent dementia? Free brain health online tool teaches the risks and gives essential tips on avoiding it

The new free “Think Brain Health Check-in” online tool from Alzheimer’s Research UK doesn’t test your memory but checks how well you’re looking after your brain and gives tips to help prevent dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Susan Mitchell is head of policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK. Photo: Dr Susan Mitchell

The Think Brain Health Check-in asks how often you challenge your brain - and then highlights why challenging your brain is key to staving off dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Getting a good night’s sleep every night is one way to lower the risk of developing dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Up to 40 per cent of dementia cases could be prevented if people were mindful of the risk factors for the illness and made lifestyle changes to prevent them. Photo: Shutterstock

Can lack of sleep raise dementia risk? Yes, studies say – but with one exception

Having only five hours of sleep a night can increase dementia risk by 30 per cent for adults over 50, one study says. Photo: Shutterstock

One tip to overcome insomnia is to avoid clock-watching. Photo: Shutterstock

Taking a warm shower or bath in the hour or so before bed may help you fall asleep – and stay asleep. Photo: Shutterstock

Professor Roger Wong of the department of public health and preventive medicine at the State University of New York’s Upstate Medical University. Photo: Roger Wong

Sleep aids can heighten dementia risk, Wong says. Photo: Shutterstock

Can’t sleep? Try getting up and engaging in cognitively stimulating activities, like reading or making jam. Photo: Shutterstock

Dementia and ACB scores: how common prescription and over-the-counter drugs raise the risk of memory loss and cognitive decline

Certain common drugs, including antihistamines, antacids, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines, can disrupt the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, dubbed the “memory molecule” increasing the risk of dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

The writer, Anthea Rowan, with her mother. Photo: Anthea Rowan

Taking medications that block the action of acetylcholine can lead to memory loss, problems with spatial awareness, and cognitive decline. Photo: Shutterstock

Studies have found that anticholinergic drugs carried “significant’ dementia risk” for the over-65s. Photo: Shutterstock

Doctors need to be mindful of the risks posed by anticholinergic drugs, especially to an already at-risk population: the over 65s. Photo: Shutterstock

How to safeguard your ageing brain: build ‘cognitive reserve’ with mental and physical exercise, and stay active and socially engaged

The phrase ‘use it or lose it’ is not just a hypothesis, it’s a basic biological fact that holds as true for our brains as our muscles or bones. Photo:
Shutterstock

Our brains, like our muscles need regular use to stay healthy and flexible, say experts, and keeping our brains active builds our ‘cognitive reserve’, helping us to stave off dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Geriatric psychiatrist Dr David Merrill recommends the active pursuit of activities that keep the brain sharp to stave off dementia. Photo: Dr David Merrill

Dorina Cadar says cultural and social engagement, reading, doing crossword puzzles, visiting art galleries, clubs and cinemas, and volunteering all increase our cognitive reserve. Photo: Dorina Cadar

Visiting an art gallery or doing something new and different are good ways to build up cognitive reserve. Photo: Shutterstock 

How yoga benefits dementia patients: new study uncovers brain-health boosts, supporting earlier research

Yoga has health benefits including better brain neuroplasticity, improved sleep quality, and more robust cardiorespiratory fitness, all of which help people experiencing cognitive decline or dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Diana Karamacoska is a research support programme fellow in healthy ageing and dementia at the NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University. Photo: Courtesy of Diana Karamacoska

Yoga could be helpful in managing brain inflammation, particularly with its mindfulness component. Photo: Shutterstock

Wendy Du is the founder of Shan Studios in Hong Kong. Photo: Wendy Du/Shan Studios

Du has maintained a daily yoga practice for 10 years. Photo: Courtesy of Shan Studios

5 nutrients good for brain health that can delay dementia, or prevent it, and foods to eat with a high concentration of them

Research has identified some key nutrients we need in our diets to maintain good cognitive function and delay or prevent the onset of dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Eating healthy isn’t just good for our bodies, it’s good for our brains, too. Photo: Shutterstock

Zahinoor Ismail, of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health at the University of Calgary. Photo: University of Calgary

Kale with pine nuts is a dish high in magnesium, and so good for brain function. Photo: Shutterstock

Oatmeal, and other wholegrain foods such as brown rice and quinoa, are rich in magnesium. Photo: Shutterstock

Mackerel is a fish that is especially high in magnesium. Photo: Shutterstock

Why you have to keep smiling at a dementia patient – you’ll feel better and it could evoke a positive response

A smile can bring a smile in return from a dementia patient, and may make them more amenable to your requests. Photo: Shutterstock

Author Anthea Rowan with her mother, who suffered from dementia. As a carer you’ve got to keep smiling, an expert on the condition tells her - and it’s not for the reason you might think. Photo: Anthea Rowan

Timothy Kwok, professor of geriatric medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Director of the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing. Photo: Timothy Kwok

Dementia sufferers cannot be reasoned with, and their emotions can run the gamut from highly positive to negative in the course of a day. Photo: Shutterstock

Many dementia sufferers end up in residential care homes because caring for them is difficult and time-consuming – especially for family members with jobs. Photo: Shutterstock

The living room at Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing, in Hong Kong. Photo: Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing

‘An attack by aliens’: how to deal with a dementia patient’s delusions – experts’ tips for carers

Carers often find it challenging to calm a dementia patient down when they suffer from paranoia, hallucinations and delusions. Experts offer advice on what to do. Photo: Shutterstock

It can be heartbreaking for a carer, especially if they are a family member, when a dementia patient cannot recognise them. Photo: Shutterstock

Disinhibition, poor control or restraint over emotions or actions, is common in patients with advanced dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Professor Fiona Kumfor is a neuropsychologist at the University of Sydney in Australia. Photo: Fiona Kumfor

When a dementia patient cannot remember where they put something, they might jump to the conclusion that it has been stolen. Photo: Shutterstock

Dementia begins in the memory centres, the hippocampus and the medial temporal lobe, then moves to other parts of the brain like the temporal lobes and then into the frontal lobe and the parietal lobes. Photo: Shutterstock

Sometimes dementia patients lose the ability to recognise loved ones’ faces, and so they may say they have never met them before. Photo: Shutterstock

Timothy Kwok is a professor of geriatric medicine at Chinese University of Hong Kong. Photo: Timothy Kwok

Unravelling 2 Alzheimer’s markers: what are amyloid plaques and tau tangles, how do they form and what do they do to the brain?

“Sepia galactic storms”: the rust coloured clumps are the stained amyloid plaques, the little black squiggles are the tau tangles. Photo: Andrew Lee

Amyloid plaques and tau tangles found in Alzheimer’s sufferers’ brains are caused by build-ups of proteins that block electrical messages. 
Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Andrew Lees, author of “The Silent Plague”, is a professor of neurology at the National Hospital in London and University College London. Photo: Dr Andrew Lees

Lee’s image of “sepia galactic storms”: the rust-coloured clumps are stained amyloid plaques, the little black squiggles are tau tangles. Photo: Andrew Lee

Two neurons: a healthy one and one with Alzheimer’s disease – with tangles and disintegration of the microtubules. Photo: Shutterstock

Daniele Vigolo and his team were able to monitor the change from liquid to solid in “fused in sarcoma” proteins, and study their internal structure. Photo: Daniele Vigolo

5 Alzheimer’s experts’ lifestyle advice on avoiding and delaying the onset of the most common form of dementia

Lifestyle tips for avoiding or delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, include staying active and socially engaged. Photo: Shutterstock

Keep your brain active throughout your lifetime – particularly by learning new skills as you age. Photo: Shutterstock 

Regular physical activity – even having a daily walk – can help delay the onset of dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Andrew Lees is professor of neurology at the National Hospital in London, and University College London. Photo: Dr Andrew Lees

Professor Timothy Kwok is professor of geriatric medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. 

Professor Craig Ritchie is professor of the psychiatry of ageing at the University of Edinburgh. Photo: Professor Craig Ritchie

Dr David Merrill is an adult and geriatric psychiatrist and director of the Brain Health Centre at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in California. Photo: courtesy of David Merrill

David Robinson is a consultant geriatrician at St James’s Hospital in Dublin. Photo: David Robinson

At risk for Alzheimer’s disease? 2 new blood tests could detect it early – here’s how they do it

New blood tests developed in Hong Kong and the US deliver an easier, less invasive and more cost-effective way to detect Alzheimer’s disease early. Photo: Shutterstock

Professor Amy Fu is on the Cognitact team at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Photo: Professor Amy Fu

Previously, Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis relied on costly MRI scans. Photo: Shutterstock

Simulated results of Quest’s AD Detect Test for Alzheimer’s Disease. Photo: Quest

The author, Anthea Rowan, pictured with her late mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Photo: Courtesy of Anthea Rowan

Excess belly fat linked to higher dementia risk, research shows. Experts explain, and advise how to shrink your waist to protect your brain

Having excess belly fat increases the risk of suffering from dementia, especially for women, according to recent research. Experts explain the link and give tips on how to shrink your waist to prevent your brain shrinking. Photo: Shutterstock

A waist size of more than 88cm for women and more than 102cm for men may put brain health at risk. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Cyrus Raji, assistant professor of radiology and neurology at Washington University School of Medicine. Photo: Washington University School of Medicine 

David Merrill, director of the Pacific Brain Health Centre. Photo: Pacific Brain Health Centre

Amanda Corse, nutrition and wellness coach at Fizz Fitness in Tanzania. Photo: Instagram/@fizz.fitness

A Buddha bowl containing vegetables and other healthy ingredients, recommended by Corse of Fizz Fitness in Tanzania. Photo: Instagram/@fizz.fitness

What carrying the ‘Alzheimer’s gene’ like Chris Hemsworth means and how to reduce risk

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}APOE4 comes with a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease, but the 25 per cent of people who have it can lower that risk with lifestyle changes

APOE4 comes with a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease, but the 25 per cent of people who have it can lower that risk with lifestyle changes