Over 60s in Northern Ireland looking for healthy lifestyle support could get it for free by taking part in a dementia study.
Researchers at Queen's University Belfast are investigating the role of diet and exercise in dementia risk.
The research will explore how diet and exercise can work to fight undernutrition. It will also explore the effect of factors - such as age, gender and genetics - on the risk of dementia in older age.
The study is entitled the PROMED-COG project, which stands for the PROtein enriched MEDiterranean diet to combat undernutrition and promote healthy neuroCOGnitive ageing.
Experts will work with participants to better understand how the balance between diet and physical activity could reverse undernutrition during ageing and prevent dementia.
And they are currently recruiting participants aged 60 and over.
Rachel Reid-McCann, one of the researchers working on the study, said: "It's a really worthwhile opportunity for members of our older population to get some support with lifestyle change while supported by nutrition and exercise experts - something that is usually a costly business!
"The study is especially important given our ageing population and increasing burden of dementia in society - both emotionally and economically."
One in ten adults aged 60 and over are undernourished, meanings they have low levels of proteins, calories, vitamins, and minerals caused by reduced food intake or because the body does not process food properly.
And this can have a severe impact in later life.
Dr Claire McEvoy from QUB's Centre for Public Health said: “Weight loss increases the risk of dementia by up to 40% but occurs a decade or more before the symptoms of memory loss become apparent.
"This gives us an opportunity to intervene early with preventative strategies to counteract undernutrition and, potentially, the onset of cognitive impairment.”
Experts will use existing datasets in Italy to study the links between undernutrition, cognitive decline and dementia. The project will test the effect of adopting a diet and exercise intervention over six months on undernutrition and cognition in older adults in Northern Ireland.
This will inform the recommendations developed to slow down cognitive decline and prevent dementia in older European citizens.
Anyone aged 60 or over who is interested in taking part can show their interest by following this link.
