WHILE there’s still no cure for dementia, experts say the best defence is reducing your risk in everyday life.

This is because up to 45 per cent of cases may be linked to lifestyle and environmental factors that people can change.

Scientists from the US say the best four ways to cut your risk include exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, keeping the brain active and staying socially engaged.

The fresh advice, published in The American Journal of Medicine , follows new research from Florida Atlantic University, which found that lifestyle tweaks already proven to protect against heart disease and cancer also appear to help shield the brain.

They also flagged other risks such as smoking, heavy alcohol use , obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure , and depression - all of whi

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