Sadly, the physical diseases that cause dementia – like Alzheimer’s disease – can take all of this away.

There’s no sure-fire way to prevent dementia yet, because some of the things that shape our risk, including our age and our genes, we can’t change.

But others, like our diet and the things we do to challenge our brains, we can. In fact, the latest evidence suggests that up to 40% of all cases of dementia are linked to factors that we may be able to influence.

If that’s news to you, you’re not alone – only a third of people in the UK realise that it’s possible to reduce their dementia risk.

But when you can’t see your brain, how do you what you should be doing to protect it?

Our Chief Medical Officer, Prof Jon Schott, says the ways to help keep your brain healthy can be broken down into three groups – things you can do to look after your heart, stay mentally sharp, and keep connected to loved ones and the world around you.

It’s never too early to start making positive changes in these areas, because changes in the brain associated with dementia start many years before we see symptoms. But research suggests that taking steps to look after your brain in your forties and fifties may be particularly important.

Although we can’t yet prevent dementia altogether, following these three simple rules will help stack the odds in your favour: