10 things about dementia to ask a doctor to keep your brain healthy

This is the 58th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope.

Two in every three health and care professionals mistakenly believe dementia is a normal part of ageing. Because of this, your doctor may not recommend steps to reduce your risk of developing the disease or may fail to pick up on signs of it and intervene to slow its progression.

A recent report in the journal Neurology highlighted issues doctors should discuss with patients. If yours does not raise them with you, you can flag them.

Here is a list of questions to ask and why they are important.

Sleep and dementia are linked, research suggests. A University College London study of people in their fifties and sixties found that those who got less than seven hours a night were at greater risk. Photo: Shutterstock

1. Do you get enough sleep?

Several studies have found a link between sleep – both too little and too much – and dementia.