Professor Matthew Kiernan

But the more common part, yes, is memory.

Why is that?

Well, I think this is really great work that came out from the Lancet Commission and they discovered 14 factors which could be modified to either prevent or treat dementia, modify or prevent.

And one of those is hearing.

And

And I think that, you know, I have a colleague who's a neurologist and he started developing hearing problems and he noticed that when he went to dinner parties, he didn't really want to engage because he couldn't hear what was going on.

So people start retreating.

And that then promotes the brain not to function as well as it normally does.

Retreating from what?

Social interaction?

Social engagement.

Oh, really?

And so social engagement is another critical factor that was identified by the Lancet Commission.

So the more that you're engaged in a profession, a work, an environment, a community, a sports environment, a rugby league club, the better off people go.

And if you're isolated, the brain doesn't like isolation.

So, these are all modifiable risk factors.

And then how could you sort of cut off a few of them?

Well, firstly, like if you like exercise, are you involved in a community approach or is it a particular exercise that you like doing, aerobic type of exercise, but also resistance training?

And these, again, are modifiable risk factors for dementia.

Another part of that that's only really come out in the last few years is an understanding we call frailty.