British researchers said taking on more responsibility in middle age could help to create a “buffer” to keep the incurable condition at bay.
A large-scale investigation of mentally fit people over the age of 65 suggests experiences in early or mid life that challenge the brain make people more resilient to age or illness because they have higher “cognitive reserves”.
Scientists found people with higher levels of reserves are more likely to stay mentally fit for longer, making them more resilient to dementia.
Linda Clare, Professor of Clinical Psychology of Ageing and Dementia at the University of Exeter, said: “Losing mental ability is not inevitable in later life.
“We know we can all take action to increase our chances of maintaining our own mental health, through healthy living and engaging in stimulating activities.
"People who engage in stimulating activity which stretches the brain, challenging it to use different strategies that exercise a variety of networks, have higher cognitive reserve.
"This builds a buffer in the brain, making it more resilient. It means signs of decline only become evident at a higher threshold of illness or decay than when this buffer is absent.”
A collaboration of researchers led by the University of Exeter and featuring experts from the universities of Bangor, Newcastle and Cambridge, used data from 2,315 mentally fit people aged over 65 to analyse whether a healthy lifestyle was associated with better performance on a mental ability test.
They found a healthy diet, more physical, social and mentally stimulating activity and moderate alcohol intake appeared to boost cognitive performance.
Professor Bob Woods, from Bangor University, said: “We found people with a healthier lifestyle had better scores on tests of mental ability, and this was partly accounted for by their level of cognitive reserve.
"Our results highlight the importance of policies and measures that encourage older people to make changes in their diet, exercise more, and engage in more socially oriented and mentally stimulating activities.”
There are now 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK - a number set to rise to more than a million by 2025.
The indiscriminate nature of the disease means it is more feared than cancer in those aged over 45.
Research shows it doubles in prevalence every five years above the age of 65 but if onset could be delayed by five years it would be halved.
Prof Fiona Matthews, of Newcastle University, said: ”Many of the factors found here to be important are not only healthy for our brain, but also help at younger age avoiding heart disease.”
The study is published in the journal PLOS Medicine.
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