Alzheimer's disease really can be avoided by following a healthy lifestyle - even if you're predisposed to get it, the largest study of its kind has revealed.
Exercising, monitoring blood pressure and watching less TV are the three key factors that will help build brain resilience and keep the disease at bay.
Researchers at the University of California in Irvine began the '90+ Study' in 2003. Tests were carried out on the 1,700 participants every six months to monitor their cognitive ability. Post-mortems were conducted upon their death.
Astonishingly half of the dementia-free patients had the hallmark brain plaques - which lead to memory loss and dementia - when they died.
Meanwhile half of the dementia patients did develop symptoms of memory loss - even without having these build-ups in their brain.
Professor Claudia Kawas, lead researcher, suggested the reason for such 'cognitive resilience' in those who should have developed dementia but remained free of it was down to a healthy lifestyle.
Professor Kawas also noted it was important to keep blood pressure under control.
Professor Kawas estimated that if these interventions were taken by more people there will be two million fewer dementia cases in the US by 2050.
But she was also clear to point out that the findings are not yet decisive, and that the risk factors for the devastating disease need further research.
