Don’t fret just yet – it could be a false alarm, plus there’s plenty you can do to protect yourself.

Here’s why you don’t need to stress out just yet – and besides, there’s plenty you can do to protect yourself.

If you’re losing your keys (again!) or forgetting names, or feeling foggy-brained and finding it hard to focus, it’s common to wonder if this is the start of a slippery slope – the early warning signs you may be developing Alzheimer’s disease. Looking after your brain should be an integral part of your healthy-ageing checklist. But, before you stress out, here are three things that might reassure you:

FORGETTING IS NORMAL

“You can be forgetful or experience foggy thinking for many reasons,” says Associate Professor Caroline Gurvich, a clinical neuropsychologist at Monash University in Melbourne. “Sometimes these are related to your lifestyle, for example if you’re stressed, sleep deprived or eating poorly.”

A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CAN HELP PROTECT YOU

Healthy lifestyle habits can have a protective effect on your brain health now and into the future. “Of current Alzheimer’s cases, about 40 per cent are thought to have been preventable if folks had modified their lifestyles,” says neuropsychologist Dr Jessica Caldwell. “Keeping your brain active, making sure you socialise and having a healthy balanced diet are all important,” adds Associate Professor Gurvich.

MENOPAUSE CAN LOOK A LOT LIKE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

“Almost two-thirds of women experience brain fog as a symptom of menopause,” says Associate Professor Gurvich. While this is enormously frustrating, the good news is that Alzheimer’s in midlife is not common.