National Brain Awareness Campaign

We want to congratulate the efforts of the HSE in creating their National Brain Awareness Week for their Dementia: Understand Together campaign which was led by the HSE in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Age Friendly Ireland, Age & Opportunity, Healthy Ireland and the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre. They are encouraging everyone to make simple changes to help maintain brain health and reduce the risk of developing some types of dementia.

A Lancet study in 2020 identified 12 modifiable risk factors that could account for 40% of dementia worldwide and we are highlighting a number of these factors, creating awareness of the link with dementia and how people in their midlife can reduce their risk.

Proactive steps people can take include

•being physically active

•eating a healthy balanced diet

•quitting smoking

•managing blood pressure

•making time for social connection and interaction

It’s always a good time to improve brain health and reduce your risk of Dementia and adopting these habits in adulthood can play an important part in reducing risk, as well as developing good routines for life.