As we age memory loss can be a frightening prospect. We’ve all had those moments of forgetfulness where we forget where put the car keys or miss an important appointment. It’s a reasonable fear. After all, Alzheimer’s and dementia affect about one in nine people age 65 and older, and older black Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older white Americans. However, the reality is that dementia doesn’t just show up suddenly one day in old age. Dementia starts in our twenties, thirties and forties. It’s the result of all of our daily habits over the course of our entire lives, and what we do today directly affects our trajectory either toward health or toward disease
