Last month, we introduced the idea that looking after our brain is something we can all do. But what does “brain health” actually mean in practice? Brain health is about how well our brain works across all areas of life — how we think, learn, remember, communicate and make decisions. It also shapes how we manage stress, interact with others and maintain our independence over time.

We often think about our brain only in terms of memory, but it is far broader than that. Brain health influences how we navigate everyday situations — from following a conversation, to solving problems at work, to staying socially connected and engaged with the world around us.

In many ways, we can think of the brain like other parts of the body — it responds to how we use it. When we challenge it, stay active, and look after our overall health, we support how it functions over time.

This reflects a growing global focus on prevention and brain health, which Marie Fay, our clinical director, and I saw highlighted at the recent Alzheimer’s Disease International conference.

Yet for many of us, brain health only comes into focus when something starts to change. In reality, people often only begin to think about their brain when changes are already noticeable — and those changes are frequently put down to “just ageing”, rather than something that should be checked.

Changes in memory or thinking are not simply something to accept; they are a health concern and should be discussed with your doctor.

We learn from a young age that things like physical activity are “good for us,” even if we don’t fully understand why.

More recently, we have become better at talking about mental health. But brain health is something we rarely talk about or know how to approach — although it underpins so much of how we live our lives.

One of the most important things we now understand is that brain health is shaped over time. It is not something that suddenly becomes relevant later in life. By the time we start to notice changes, the underlying processes in the brain have often been developing for many years.

Many of the same factors that affect conditions like heart disease and diabetes also affect the brain — which is why brain health is increasingly being understood as part of our overall health, not something separate from it.

This matters because dementia is often still seen as an inevitable part of ageing. In reality, it is not. As we highlighted last month, research suggests that up to 45 per cent of dementia cases worldwide could be delayed or prevented through changes in lifestyle and health, according to the 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia.

This is a powerful reminder that there is something we can do — that how we look after our health over time can influence how our brain ages.

That does not mean there is a single solution or a perfect way to “protect” your brain. It is more about the accumulation of everyday habits over time. The small choices we make — particularly those that support our overall health — all play a role.

It also means that brain health matters at every stage of life. Whether you are in your 30s or 40s and balancing work and family, or later in life and adjusting to retirement, there are always steps you can take that make a difference.

Paying attention to how your brain is functioning over time is part of this. Just as we check our blood pressure or cholesterol, it can be helpful to notice changes in memory or thinking and to talk about any concerns with your doctor.

For some people, particularly later in life, this may include establishing a baseline and monitoring changes over time.

For people already living with dementia, these same factors remain important. While they do not change the underlying disease, they can support day-to-day function and quality of life for as long as possible.

Over the coming months, we will explore each of these areas in more detail — from physical health and mental wellbeing to hearing, social connection, and lifestyle — and what the evidence tells us about how they affect the brain.

Memory Matters Tip of the Month

Take a look at your daily routine and choose one small change to make this week.

That might be moving a bit more, connecting with others, or trying something different with your diet. For example, try swapping juice or soft drinks for water instead. Small steps, repeated over time, can make a meaningful difference.

• Erica Fulton is executive director of Dementia Bermuda. The organisation provides information, education and support for individuals and families. Learn more atdementiabermuda.bm