Brain health after 60: Steps to stay sharp and independent • 60+Club

Brain health after 60: Steps to stay sharp and independent 🧠💡

For Australians in their 60s, 70s and beyond, thinking about dementia can feel weighty. But the message is: you don’t have to wait passively — there’s both emerging treatment hope and powerful steps you can take now to maintain brain health and reduce risk. This article explores both sides: what’s happening in drug development, and what you can do today to keep your brain healthy for longer.

What’s new on the treatment front: the Alzheimer’s-drug story in Australia

Earlier in 2025 (May) Australia’s regulatory body, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), approved a long-awaited drug called donanemab (branded as Kisunla) — the first Alzheimer’s therapy to be approved in Australia in around 25 years. However, in August, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Council (PBAC) decided not to fund the drug under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), meaning many people will face very high costs if they wish to access it. The full course could cost up to around $85,000, excluding tests and monitoring.

The clinical picture is mixed. Some specialists believe donanemab offers a chance to delay decline in early-stage Alzheimer’s, under strict eligibility. Others caution that the benefits are modest, the risks (including brain swelling or bleeding) real, and long-term outcomes still uncertain. Some researchers also question the dominant theory of how Alzheimer’s develops (the “amyloid hypothesis”) and argue for broader approaches.

What this means for you:

If you or someone you love has early-stage Alzheimer’s, this drug may represent a new option—but it’s not a cure, and access & cost are major hurdles.
Regardless of drug developments, building brain-healthy habits remains vital and within your control.
If treatments like donanemab become more accessible in future, older Australians who are already practising brain-healthy habits may be in a stronger position to benefit.

A proactive approach: reducing dementia risk and staying brain-healthy

While we await fuller cures or treatments, there’s growing, encouraging evidence that many dementia risk factors are modifiable. In fact, about 40 % of dementia risk may relate to behaviours or conditions you can influence.

Key research insights for older Australians

A recent Australian trial, part of the “Brain Bootcamp” initiative, found that older adults who adopted modest lifestyle changes (more physical activity, better diet, cognitive training) reported improved cognition and stronger motivation to live brain-healthily.
Another large Australian internet-based trial found that coaching older adults (55–77) in diet, exercise, brain training and mental health resulted in measurable cognitive improvement — roughly equivalent to delaying dementia onset by about one year.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reports that older Australians are more likely than younger ones to take actions that reduce dementia risk (for example, staying socially active, physically active), but fewer than two in five take those actions specifically to reduce dementia risk.

What practical steps you can take

Here are evidence-based, Brain-Healthy Actions especially relevant for over-60s:

1. Stay physically active

Regular aerobic activity (walking, cycling, swimming) improves blood flow, heart health and may protect brain function.
Resistance/strength training helps maintain muscle and bone, supports mobility and independence — also indirectly supports brain health.
One study found slower walking speed in older adults may signal elevated dementia risk.
Verywell Health

2. Mind your cardiovascular health

Many dementia risk factors overlap with heart/disease risk: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking.
A study from Melbourne found cholesterol fluctuations over time may increase dementia risk by up to 60 %.

3. Stay socially and mentally active

Keep engaging in new hobbies, learning skills, puzzles, group activities — these build cognitive reserve.
Social connection matters. People who remain connected tend to show better brain health outcomes.

4. Prioritise diet, sleep & hearing

A healthy diet (for example Mediterranean-style) supports brain health.
Address hearing loss (uncorrected hearing loss accounts for ~8 % of dementia risk in older adults).
Good quality sleep and managing depression/anxiety also matter.

5. Use tools and monitor your brain health

You can use brain-health self-assessment tools (for example the validated “CogDrisk” tool) to track risk and trigger conversations with your GP.

Two stories of hope, challenge and choices

These stories show two complementary paths: advanced treatment for some, but real-world prevention available for everyone.

Story 1: Jenny, 61
Jenny (a former nurse) was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s. She and her husband saw the potential of new treatments like donanemab — but found access and cost prohibitive. They shifted focus to lifestyle choices: regular walking, social groups, diet improvements. For them, the emphasis was on “more time together, more quality.”

Story 2: Participants in “Brain Bootcamp”
Older Australians took part in a low-intensity program which encouraged them to pick 2-4 personal goals (e.g., increasing steps, joining an art class, reducing alcohol). 84 % chose physical-activity goals. After the programme, participants were more confident they could reduce risk and felt motivated to act.

Staying positive & in control

It’s natural to feel anxious about dementia — but you have agency. Here are mindsets that work for over-60s:

Focus on what you can influence, rather than what you can’t (e.g., age, genetics).
Think of brain health like heart health: habits matter over decades.
Small changes add up: You don’t have to be perfect — consistent progress matters.
Stay connected: Your social network, family, friends and community engagement all matter.
Talk with your clinician: Addressing hearing loss, blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep and physical activity are legitimate brain-health strategies.

While the promise of new Alzheimer’s treatments like donanemab gives hope, they are not a reason to pause on action. For Australians aged 60+, the real power lies in adopting brain-healthy habits now — strengthening your body, keeping your brain engaged, staying connected and managing cardiovascular and metabolic risks.

With the right mindset and small steps, you can give your brain the best possible chance for a long, vibrant, and independent life. You don’t just want more years — you want more quality years. And that starts today.

Further reading & resources:
– AIHW: “Reducing the risk of dementia” report. Read here
– University of Western Sydney “Brain Bootcamp” study. Read here
– UNSW/Neuroscience Research Australia dementia-prevention work. Read here

Disclaimer
This article is provided by 60+Club for general information and awareness only. It is not medical advice, nor should it be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation about your individual health or medical condition. Always seek guidance from your GP, specialist, or other qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about diagnosis, treatment, or lifestyle changes related to your health or wellbeing.