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Young Forever - Can We Keep Our Brains Healthy?

July 7, 2014

Why do people in Sardinia stay fit and healthy into old age, whilst the number of people suffering from dementia in Germany continues to rise? What can we do for our brain to stay healthy even in old age?

https://p.dw.com/p/1C7g6

This photo shows clearly how happy these people on Sardinia with themselves and with life in general. They hardly ever talk about age-related diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis and dementia. An above-average percentage of people on the Mediterranean island are over 100 years old and yet remain mentally fit and healthy. How do they explain it? And what is the situation like in other countries?

In Germany, the fear of dementia in old age is rising. Current projections suggest the number of dementia cases around the world is expected to double by 2050. This incurable disease of the brain, it seems, is the new scourge of humanity. But is dementia actually inevitable and perhaps caused by hereditary factors? What is the secret of a long and healthy life? What about the study from Oxford that shows that our standard modern diet can lead to reduced brain performance?


Does aging automatically go hand-in-hand with the increased risk of dementia? What’s the secret of Nobel laureate Eric Kandel, who at 84 is still actively pursuing his research at Columbia University and giving lectures around the world? Finally, can we do something for our brains so we can look forward without fear to a ripe old age? We go looking for some life-changing answers.



07.07.2014 DW Dokumentationen & Reportagen Ein Leben lang jung 3
Playing chess can improve cognitive function and help stave off dementia.
07.07.2014 DW Dokumentationen & Reportagen Ein Leben lang jung 1
The Latin word dementia means “without spirit.” There are many different forms of the disease, but they all have one thing in common: cognitive decline.


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