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Anthea Rowan

This is the 50th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope.
In the last years of her life, my mother grew increasingly frail. She seemed to get tired faster, move with less confidence and agility, and walk more slowly. I began to worry about trips and falls: she sometimes seemed more breakable.
She began to do less. “I’m too old for this nonsense,” she would sometimes rail. She began to think herself old, which can be a self-fulfilling prophecy.
As we get old, a doctor told me, “we expect less of ourselves, so we do less”. And in doing less we become less able.

The Oxford Dictionary defines frailty as a condition of being weak and delicate, and uses advancing age as an example: “the increasing frailty of old age”.
Dr David Ward, a research fellow in Ageing and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Queensland, in Australia, defines frailty as a health state “reflecting how people are ageing”.
It is an important concept in medicine, he says, because it allows healthcare professionals to understand differences in risk between two patients who are the same age. Greater frailty increases the risk of death irrespective of age.
A 2001 study suggested meeting three or more of five listed criteria pointed to frailty:

low grip strength


low energy – the inability to get going in the morning or feeling exhausted after the slightest effort


a slow walking speed – walking pace is considered slow if it takes you more than six or seven seconds to walk 4.6 metres (15 feet)


low amounts of physical activity


unintentional weight loss of 4.5kg (10 pounds) or more in the preceding year.


A handheld device called a dynamometer can measure grip strength, but you can get a good idea of it in other ways too.
The simplest is the handshake test – it needs to be firm.
Another is the “object lift and hold” test. Choose something with some weight to it, like a handheld barbell or a full water bottle. Hold the item in one hand, raise the arm and extend it, and see how long you can maintain your grip.

The third is the “squeeze and release” test using a soft ball: the greater the number of successful squeezes, the greater your grip strength.
Measuring grip strength is increasingly recognised as an excellent inexpensive and quick screening test for cognitive decline.
Ward recently co-authored a large study that explored the links between frailty and dementia. It found frailty to be both a marker of dementia and a risk factor for its development.

The team analysed data up to 24 years before the onset of dementia in patients, and found that frailty began to accelerate – beyond what was expected given the person’s age and gender – from around nine years before the onset of dementia.
The more age-related conditions a patient presented with, the greater the risk of increased frailty.
“Our findings show with every four to five additional health problems there is on average a 40 per cent higher risk of developing dementia,” Ward says. For people who are fitter, the risk is lower.
The more frail a person is, the more likely it is that their brain is unable to maintain normal cognition
Dr David Ward, a geriatrics specialist
This suggests that frailty is not just a consequence of undetected dementia but actually contributes to its onset.
Markers of advancing age, including greying hair, do not necessarily reflect a person’s health status. So how is frailty measured?
Frailty can be measured using a “frailty index”, which takes into consideration a broad range of health conditions and functional limitations, Ward says.
This includes many aspects of general health such as chronic pain, blood pressure, a previous cancer diagnosis, cognition, functional performance – how good the person’s sight and hearing is, for example; their level of independence, what they eat, their mood and whether they have problems with continence.
Many of these are modifiable risk factors for dementia: deafness, visual loss, lack of cognitive or social stimulation, loneliness or a lack of exercise.

If – or as – these things worsen with age, a person is described as becoming more frail.
“When a person’s frailty is increasing at an elevated rate, it is a warning sign that multiple organ systems may be losing their function, and there is no reason to think that the brain may be spared those changes,” Ward says.
Dementia risk rises with greater frailty. Existing diseases whose symptoms did not previously show can start to worsen.
In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, Ward says, some people can have the telltale build-up of proteins known as amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain without experiencing the usual symptoms such as memory loss.
This is more likely to result in dementia among frail people compared to fit people.

“In other words, the more frail a person is, the more likely it is that their brain is unable to maintain normal cognition in the face of advancing neurodegeneration.”
The value of Ward’s research is that being aware of – and recognising the dangers of – the onset of frailty, and responding to it, could delay or prevent the development of dementia.
Keep going! Stay strong!
To avoid or slow the progression of frailty, Ward advises people to adopt the Four Pillars of Frailty Prevention and Management:


Nutrition: Follow a healthy diet rich in protein, as older adults require more protein to maintain muscle mass, strength and functionality.


Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity, especially strength-based exercises, which are most effective in reducing frailty. Building and preserving muscle strength should be a long-term goal well into older age.


Medication management: Talk to your doctor about ways to reduce or substitute drugs that may cause side effects like sedation, confusion, or balance issues, while optimising medications for chronic conditions like hypertension.


Social connections: Social engagement provides emotional support, boosts motivation and promotes both physical and mental activities.

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Wellness

Dementia and frailty are linked. How to stave off both, according to expert on ageing

To avoid or slow the progression of frailty, maintain social connections.
Photo: Shutterstock

Walking slowly is one of the signs of frailty, a condition that increases the risk of dementia. An expert on ageing explains how to head off both. Photo: Shutterstock



Feeling old can be a self-fulfilling prophecy; it leads people to do less and become frailer quicker as a result. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr David Ward, a research fellow in Ageing and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Queensland, in Australia, says greater frailty increases the risk of death irrespective of age. Photo: Dr David Ward

A dynamometer can test grip strength. A low grip strength is one of the five criteria for frailty, according to a 2001 study. Photo: Shutterstock

An elderly man runs with a young man in a park. Low amounts of energy are one of the signs of frailty. Ward says staying active as we get older is a great way to stay physically and mentally healthy. Photo: Shutterstock

Frailty increases the risk of death, irrespective of age. It is also a marker of dementia and a risk factor for its development. Photo: Shutterstock

Ward says exercise, especially strength-based exercise, is great for reducing frailty. Photo: Shutterstock

To avoid or slow the progression of frailty, follow a healthy diet rich in protein; older adults need more protein to maintain muscle mass. Photo: Shutterstock

Early signs of dementia, from falls to personality changes and driving difficulties

A driver with cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s disease can get lost, react too quickly or too slowly, or - worst case - have an accident. Photo: Shutterstock

Falls can be another early warning sign of the onset of dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Antonio Terracciano is a professor in the department of geriatrics at Florida State University in the United States. Photo: Florida State University

Dr Alexander Ordoobadi of Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Photo: Brigham and Women’s Hospital 

“Detrimental personality change” can be noticeable before a diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Photo: Shutterstock

How weightlifting helped 2 older Singaporeans end back pain and build stronger bones

When Raj Grover developed severe back pain, he hit upon a surprising remedy: lifting weights. Here he is seen squat lifting 155kg. Photo: Shaun Pang

As mature powerlifters in Singapore like Patricia Lynn Meyer (pictured) have discovered, working out with barbells increases bone and muscle mass, and bone density, improves posture and slows the ageing process. Photo: Shaun Pang


When Raj Grover developed severe back pain, he hit upon a surprising remedy: lifting weights. Photo: Shaun Pang

Patricia Lynn Meyer, now 69, started strength training with barbells in Singapore seven years ago after being diagnosed with osteoporosis. Photo: Shaun Pang

Shaun Pang owns Hygieia Strength and Conditioning in Singapore, a gym that specialises in working with older adults to help them build and maintain their strength. Photo: Patrick Lau 

Meyer with her trainer Pang, who says using weights to train your muscles can help slow down, or even reverse, the ageing process. Photo: Shaun Pang

As part of the Singapore national team at the Southeast Asian Cup 2022, Meyer set an Asian dead-lift record of 122.5kg for women in her age group (60 to 69 years) and weight (under 52kg) category. Photo: Shaun Pang

Grover celebrates after breaking a record for the dead-lift, 195.5kg. Photo: Shaun Pang

How to live longer by more than 20 years: 8 expert tips for men and women to adopt before the age of 40

Doing at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise each week, including strength training on at least two or three days, is one of the habits a new study on how to live longer recommends. Photo: Shutterstock

Eating a healthy diet with more plant foods instead of processed foods lowers your risk of developing serious illness, the study found. Photo: Shutterstock

Nathan Price is a bioengineer and professor at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, Washington. Photo: Institute for Systems Biology.

Opioids are highly addictive. Photo: Shutterstock

Adults should get seven to eight hours a night. Photo: Shutterstock

Jia Ling’s weight loss journey: how YOLO actress-director shed more than 50kg through a 2-week diet cycle and intermittent fasting

Jia Ling shed over 50kg (110 pounds) in a year for her role in the hit movie YOLO. How? Afterwards the Chinese actress revealed the diet plan she followed, and other steps she took,  to lose the weight. Photo: Sony Pictures

Jia at the premiere of her film YOLO, which means “You Only Live Once”, in Beijing, China. Photo: Getty Images

Eggs feature in all three meals on day two of the diet. Photo: Shutterstock

A still from YOLO. Photo: Weibo

Day five’s lunch features chicken breast. Photo: Shutterstock

Eat oatmeal for breakfast on day seven. Photo: Shutterstock

Have sea bass on day 10. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Lists

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. 

Dementia and frailty are linked. How to stave off both, according to expert on ageing

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Being frail raises the risk of cognitive decline as we age, studies show. Exercise and a healthy diet can help avoid it, researcher says

Being frail raises the risk of cognitive decline as we age, studies show. Exercise and a healthy diet can help avoid it, researcher says