Healthy brain maintenance protects cognitive skills from early Alzheimer's effects

A healthy brain may help protect thinking and memory skills from the early effects of Alzheimer's disease, a new study has found.

Dementia is currently the leading cause of death in Australia and Alzheimer's disease is its most common form - accounting for more than 70 % of cases.

Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disease in which cognitive abilities gradually decline, leading to impaired memory and thinking skills.

However, some people maintain high levels of cognitive function even though their brains show early signs of the disease. Specifically, some older adults have Alzheimer's‑related brain pathology, but no noticeable cognitive problems.