ONE KNOT IS FOR YOUR BRAIN

Making sure you keep it top of mind. Push it with puzzles, challenge it to figure out new stuff, make it earn its keep. Stimulate it by connecting with others socially. Push it to protect it from losing every memory, name and piece of you it holds inside.

 Take up a hobby such as painting, woodwork, craft work

 Read different styles of books, newspapers and magazines

 Learn a language, an instrument or to dance

 Go to the theatre, museum, the cinema or a concert with a friend

 Play board games or cards with a club or with friends

 Volunteer with a favourite charity or local community group

 Travel to see new places, go with a group of people

 Phone or meet family and friends regularly, share news and keep in touch

 Join a group such as a walking club, book club or sporting club

Your local newspapers and radio stations are often a great source of information about clubs, groups and social activities taking place in your area.

For puzzles and brain games visit www.yourbrainmatters.org.au

 ONE KNOT IS FOR YOUR BODY

The body that needs to stay in top shape now, to prevent it stumbling over simple things later. Give it good food, activate it for 30 minutes a day, give it a break from alcohol.

 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, 3 to 5 times per week

 Walking, cycling, swimming, dancing or an exercise class

 Gardening, washing the car, cleaning windows

 Take the stairs instead of the lift and go for a walk at lunch

 Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, 5 servings per day

 Include fish in your diet, particularly oily fish such as salmon, mackerel or sardines

Build it up over time and if you have any doubts, talk to you doctor

For suggestions and practical tips to help you to get active visit www.getirelandactive.ie

For information about healthy eating and recipe suggestions visit www.safefood.eu

 ONE KNOT IS FOR YOUR HEART

A knot to remind you to keep it strong. Do whatever you can to make it as beating and belting and booming as possible. Good food and exercise are part of the plan. Protect yourself from things that can damage your heart and your brain.

 Have regular health checks with your doctor, to ensure your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar are at levels that are healthy for you.

 Take steps to maintain a healthy body weight

 Alcohol in moderation

 It is never too late to stop smoking

 Cut down on salt

 Reduce fat, saturated fat and sugar

For information and practical suggestions to help you manage cholesterol, your blood pressure and how to keep your heart healthy, speak with your doctor and visit www.irishheart.ie

For help to give up smoking speak with your doctor and visit www.quit.ie or call 1850 201 203

SHARE THE 3 KNOTS

Alzheimer’s will not tell you it’s coming.

But once it arrives, it doesn’t go away.

It gets progressively worse.

It tangles and plaques the proteins in your brain, leading to the death of brain cells, causing symptoms of dementia.

Making you swing from anger to fear, making it hard to remember who other people are, making you

You cannot cure Alzheimer’s,

but growing scientific evidence indicates that by keeping

healthy, you can do one heck of a lot to reduce your risk of developing it.

Every day think of three simple knots, tie them into your daily routine, remind yourself to perform one task in each key area.

One knot is for your heart.
A knot to remind you to keep it strong. Run, jump, chuck the fags away, cool the jets on the booze. Do whatever you can to make it as beating and belting and booming as possible. Do whatever it takes so it never has to break when you forget the name of your own child, even when they’re standing right there in front of you.

One knot is for your brain.
Making sure you keep it top of mind. Sure it’d love to lounge around but you have to boss it into action. Push it with puzzles, challenge it to figure out new stuff, make it earn its keep. Push it to protect it from losing every memory, name and piece of you it holds inside.

One knot is for your body.
The body that needs to stay in top nick now, to prevent it stumbling over simple things later. Like forgetting how the remote control works, or how angry it feels when socks end up in your pocket instead of on your feet. Give it good food, activate it for 30 minutes a day, give it a break from alcohol.

3 knots.
3 knots from your mind, asking that you forget-me-not and I will do my very best never to forget.

As The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, we provide up to one million hours of care, every year, to those living with dementia. It is our hope that you will care for yourself now, to reduce your risks later. Take a minute to discover 3 things you can do today, to keep your heart, body and brain healthy at alzheimer.ie

SHARE OUR MANIFESTO

About the research

Growing scientific evidence indicates that lifestyle and health strategies can help to keep our brain healthy and reduce our risk of developing dementia in later life.
Lowering our risk does not mean we can definitely avoid dementia.
Dementia cannot yet be prevented or cured.
But evidence does suggest that by making small changes to the way we live we can reduce our chances of developing dementia or at the very least, improve our general health and well-being.

For more information about the scientific evidence visit:

Your Brain Matters
A Guide to Healthy Hearts and Minds
http://www.yourbrainmatters.org.au/

For information about research with Irish participation you can visit:

In-MIND
Innovative, Midlife, Intervention for Dementia Deterrence
http://www.inmind.eu

NEIL
Neuro-Enhancement for Independent Lives
http://www.tcd.ie/neuroscience/neil/