Dodging Dementia

Mary is a director and founder of Adapt Dementia Ltd formed to help people find a better way to live with dementia. She has specific first-hand experience of dementia through her work for Alzheimer's Society, a UK dementia charity. She also has many years of experience working for the National Health Service and in the field of medical publishing. She is a close associate of ELM (End of Life Care). Mary qualified to deliver the Alzheimer's Society CrisP programme which specifically caters for family carers and is QCF assessor in vocational achievement for Dementia. Mary's ability to use her first-hand experience to illuminate points in the training make her an inspirational and motivating trainer. Her specialist area is delivering Cognitive Stimulation Therapy to those in early stage dementia. Mary is also known for her books The Essential Carer's Guide, The Essential Carer's Guide to Dementia, The Essential Guide to Avoiding Dementia and Coping with Mild Cognitive Impairment as well as The 'D' Word co-authored with Psychiatrist Dr Noel Collins. Mary co-authored the award-winning: End of Life, The Essential Guide to Caring with Judy Carole

Whilst there may be more questions than answers when it comes to dementia, this book certainly gives you a much clearer idea of likely contributing factors, and the many practical steps each of us can take to minimise the risks - and to make the best of circumstances if we, or someone we care for, develops the condition. Frances Leckie, Independent Living's Editor

• Part I: What we know about the risk factors: Age, personality, social factors; Trauma, physical and mental; Miscellaneous factors; Drugs and medication (to be contributed by Dr J Thompson); Nutritional factors; Part II: Assessing personal risk factors: Past history; Physical status; Lifestyle; Current status; Part III: What you can do: Nutrition; Exercise; Confounding factors to avoid; Sleep, stress and social lilfe; Planning ahead; Resources