Simple steps to reduce risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease

BOSTON —

New research from Mass General Brigham shows even modest amounts of exercise can reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease.

And one scientist who has been working in this field for years says there are other simple steps you can take to keep your brain sharper as you age.

"We developed this tool called the Brain Care Score ," said Dr. Sanjula Singh, a neurologist at MGB. "It focuses on dementia, on stroke and on late-life depression."

The survey measures the impact of everyday behavior on cognitive health. And Singh said that, as it turns out, reducing your risk is not as difficult as you might think.

"Each behavior contributes to a single score, which helps people track and improve their brain care over time," she said.

Let's start with blood pressure. It's a key risk f