The importance of diet – and agriculture

• Working with partners in Indonesia, we have demonstrated that tempeh protects against dementia, suggesting a relationship between gut and brain health.
• Drawing on our research findings, the Indonesian government is addressing the issue of water pollution. Neurotoxic heavy metals in the waterways that irrigate rice and kangkong (water spinach) fields may be exacerbating the documented rise in dementia cases.

Prescribing exercising for brain health

• Research suggests that strong educational outcomes can help to reduce the incidence of dementia. Therefore, we developed and tested Super Movers, the BBC / Premier League exercise programme for primary school children. It delivered clear improvements in 1,000 children tested for concentration and classroom achievement.
• We’ve developed a bespoke exercise programme for older people, Couch potatoes for cognition. It has helped to improve regular participants’ memory function, and slowed cognitive and physical decline in middle-aged and older people with and without dementia.
• We’ve found that repetitive heading during football may double the risk for dementia in professional footballers – supporting the development of FA Health and Safety Guidelines.

Investigating menopause’s impact on cognitive function

• We are exploring how the onset of menopause affects brain function and HRT’s possible role in alleviating these symptoms as well as its posited potential to prevent dementia.
• We supported the development of the NICE Guidelines for the medical management of menopause – used by doctors across the UK – as well as European Guidelines for women undergoing premature menopause.

Dementia-friendly homes

• The Dementia-Friendly Demonstration Home– opened on the BRE Innovation Park in July 2018 – is fitted with a variety of our technologies and adaptations that support different types and stages of dementia.
• Our innovations address people’s day-to-day needs – including exercise, using Couch potatoes for cognition and dietary guidance, Cooking for cognition.
• The Home has revealed much about inclusive design and environments for people with dementia – and given rise to two recent publications, Design for Dementia: Living Well at Home (2023) and Creating Empowering Environments for People with Dementia (2024).

Professor Eef Hogervorst talked to Being Patient: Alzheimer’s about HRT, brain changes and menopause in June 2022.