It is the ticking timebomb that will affect 1.7 million of us in just 40 years. But can you stave off Alzheimer’s with a healthy diet? Scientists said eating chicken, oily fish and nuts may help stop it developing. So what do the experts say about the other claimed methods?

Eat berries

A study of 16,010 female nurses in the US suggested that eating greater amounts of blueberries and strawberries is associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline.
 
Strawberries and blueberries are rich in a group of naturally occurring antioxidants called flavonoids, which scientists suggest may help to delay cognitive aging by protecting brain cells from chemical stress which can build up as we age. The study suggests a link between eating berries and slower cognitive decline, but there could be many factors at play.

Clean the house

A study which measured the activity of older people over a four year period, showed that daily physical activity such as cooking, cleaning and playing cards could help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. There is already some evidence that exercise in midlife can help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Learn another language

A recent article found some evidence to suggest that speaking more than one language may help to boost our ‘cognitive reserve’ — the ability of our brain to resist damage. It is thought that this could help protect our brains from decline and may bolster our brains against the damage which causes dementia.

Drink green tea

Scientists have found that green tea compounds could protect the cells in rats from the harmful effects of amyloid — the toxic protein that builds up in the brain during Alzheimer's.

Eat broccoli and rocket

Researchers want to know how to fight cell damage caused by free radicals. They hope to harness the body’s natural antioxidant defence mechanisms to halt the progression of Alzheimer’s, using drugs designed to kick-start these mechanisms. One drug is based on a chemical called sulforaphane, which is found in vegetables such as broccoli and rocket.