The seven Mind your Mind signposts are:
- Mind your Brain – Keep your brain active
- Mind your Diet – Eat healthily
- Mind your Body – Be physically active
- Mind your Health Checks – Manage blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugar and weight
- Mind your Social Life – Participate in social activities
- Mind your Habits – Avoid tobacco smoke and only drink alcohol in moderation
- Mind your Head- Protect your head from serious injury
Following the Mind your Mind signposts does not guarantee that you won’t develop dementia. But we know from research that they may help reduce risk and may even delay the onset of dementia. And the great news is the signposts are also good for overall health and wellbeing.
Why did Alzheimer’s Australia develop the Mind your Mind program?
Dementia can not yet be prevented or cured, so it’s important for Australians to be made aware of what they can do to reduce their risk of developing dementia. People need to know what a ‘brain-healthy’ lifestyle is, that it’s important to follow this lifestyle throughout life and that it’s particularly important once middle age and beyond is reached.
Who is the Mind your Mind program aimed at?
Following a brain healthy lifestyle is important throughout all stages of life but particularly important from mid-life onwards. Research shows that the changes in the brain that result in dementia may start decades before any symptoms appear. So it’s important for people in mid-life to be aware of what they can do to reduce their risk of dementia and commit to living a ‘brain healthy’ life.
To find out how ‘brain healthy’ you are, print and complete the Mind your Mind checklist.
updated: June 2009.
