It's Brain Awareness Week, a global campaign aimed at increasing public knowledge about the benefits of brain research.
Brain specialist Dr Helena Popovic is in New Zealand to support the campaign, and says we need to tackle the obesity epidemic in order to curb the dementia epidemic.
She says obesity damages blood vessels throughout the body, including the brain, compromising the body's ability to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the brain, impeding its proper functioning.
Obesity also increases the risk of diabetes, stroke and sleep apnea, all of which can increase the likelihood of dementia.
It also makes it harder to exercise, a proven way to avoid the debilitating condition.
Watch the video for the full interview with Dr Helena Popovic.
source: newshub archive
