What is better than being able to ward off one of the most devastating brain diseases? And guess it did not necessarily involve a prescription or a breakthrough drug but simply tweaking your daily habits. That is the message Irish neuroscientist Dr. Sabina Brennan shared when she sat down with Davina McCall on the Begin Again podcast. With dementia cases in the UK soaring and projected to rise, her tips could not come at a better time.Though the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia, still puzzle experts, Dr. Brennan is certain of one thing: we have more control than we think. Through simple, everyday choices, we can give our brains a fighting chance.Here is what she says we all should be doing: 1. Sweat It Out for a Sharper BrainDr. Brennan insists the real magic lies in movement. “Physical exercise is one of the best things you can do for your brain health,” she told Davina. That is not something most people expect to hear when it comes to dementia, but the link is undeniable.The secret weapon here is a protein known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF. Think of it as plant food, but for your brain. “I call it ‘Miracle-Gro for the brain’. It makes it easier for you to grow new brain cells and new connections between them. And that is what you want in a healthy brain. Lots of brain cells and connections.”She goes on to explain why that is so critical in the early stages of dementia. “If you get Alzheimer's disease pathology in your brain in the early stages, it is not about how much pathology, how much disease you have in your brain. It is about how much healthy brain you have to cope with that disease that will allow you to continue functioning for as long as possible.” So build up that mental muscle now, and you may buy yourself more time down the road.2. Socialise More If you needed a reason to chat with your neighbour or call your grandmother, here it is. “A challenging activity for your brain” is how Dr. Brennan describes conversation. “Your brain has to work hard. And that is really, really good.”She is not talking about small talk alone. It is the deeper connections and dynamic conversations that really get the grey matter going. And crucially, she urges us to be intentional about who we socialise with.“We tend to hang out with people of the same age as us,” she points out. “But there is no nice way to say it. As you get older, your age cohort will die off. And so people end up socially isolated through no fault of their own.”Her solution? Build intergenerational friendships before it is too late. “We have to have more intergenerational friendships. And the research shows that everybody benefits in that case; younger people interacting with older people have to do something about that.”Isolation is not only emotionally draining, she warns; it is mentally damaging too. And visiting older relatives should not be seen as a one-way street. “Visit them as an equal. Do not visit them as someone who is doing a good deed. Talk to them as an intelligent individual.” It is a brain-boosting strategy that doubles as a social fix.3. Learn Something NewIf you have been meaning to learn the ukulele or brush up on French, now is the time. Dr. Brennan’s rallying cry? “Go mental.”“Learn something new because that is when you harness neuroplasticity,” she says, referring to the brain’s ability to reorganise and adapt. But she admits the word “learning” comes with baggage. “I just wish there was another word for learning because it has got such connotations about education and school and, for a lot of people, a lot of negative [connotations].”Still, learning, in the broadest sense, is key. She even uses the simple act of opening a door to make her point. “When you open a door for the first time, you are learning how to open that door. Your brain is learning how much pressure to put on that door and how much force you have to push it.”So, yes, Sudoku is great, but do not stop there. “Once you are good at it and you are comfortable, you have to push yourself to the next level. Go from a simple crossword to a complex crossword. Put a timer on so you do it more quickly. You know, you just have to keep challenging yourself. But it can be anything. If you play a musical instrument, learn another technique.”Whether it is mastering a new recipe, joining a dance class, or finally tackling those cryptic crosswords, the goal is to keep your brain guessing.And do not forget rest. Dr. Brennan wraps up her advice with one final reminder: all that mental hard work needs to be processed. “Getting enough sleep so your brain can effectively process and categorise all those new skills is crucial.”We might not have a cure for Alzheimer’s yet, but according to Dr. Brennan, we are far from powerless. Move your body, keep your social circle diverse, and challenge your mind, not just to stay sharp, but to stay connected and alive. It is simple science with life-changing impact.