Acclaimed actor Julianne Moore won an Oscar in 2015 for her portrayal of a linguistics professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in the film Still Alice. At the time of filming she said she “knew absolutely nothing about Alzheimer’s” and spent about two months researching—watching films, meeting doctors, visiting care facilities, and talking with people living with the disease and their caregivers. The experience was “fascinating and really, really engaging and eye-opening,” she told Healthline.
A decade later, Moore says Alzheimer’s feels closer to home as she sees it in colleagues and people she knew through her children’s schools. She recently partnered with Eli Lilly & Co. on the Brain Health Matters campaign, which emphasizes proactive brain health. The campaign aims to empower people to start early, talk with doctors about Alzheimer’s risk, and adopt habits that support lifelong brain health. Moore encourages people to ask for cognitive assessments and discuss lifestyle changes that may mitigate risk rather than waiting until symptoms appear.
Hillary A. Parker, PhD, director of geriatric neuropsychology service at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Healthline that research shows adults at higher risk for cognitive decline can take measures to help lower that risk. She noted that younger years are often most impactful for building healthy habits that support brain health.
Parker’s recommendations:
– Physical strategies: Regular movement (walking counts), exercising, and heart-healthy diets such as the Mediterranean or MIND diets can positively impact brain health. Avoid smoking and heavy alcohol use, and manage chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. Addressing hearing and vision loss is important, as untreated sensory changes are linked to higher dementia risk.
– Cognitive strategies: Pursue education and mentally stimulating activities to build cognitive reserve. There’s no single superior “brain training” program; the key is finding activities that interest and challenge you—crosswords, music, reading, gaming, traveling, woodworking, gardening, and similar pursuits all help.
– Social strategies: Strong social ties across the lifespan support brain health and mental wellness. Research links depression and social isolation to increased dementia risk.
Parker also emphasized that some outward signs like occasional memory lapses don’t always indicate Alzheimer’s pathology. Typical age-related cognitive changes include misplacing keys, “tip of the tongue” word-finding trouble, forgetting the reason for entering a room, and taking longer to complete tasks. Other conditions—depression, sleep apnea, heavy alcohol use, poorly controlled diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, infections, and more—can cause cognitive difficulties.
Genetics plays a relatively small role in Alzheimer’s that occurs after age 60, though personal health history can matter as much or more. Early-onset Alzheimer’s, like Moore’s film character, is more often associated with genetic risks.
If you’re over 50 and experiencing memory loss beyond common forgetfulness, Parker recommends talking with a healthcare professional and seeking a comprehensive workup. Consultation with a neuropsychologist and cognitive neurologist can help identify causes and develop an individualized treatment plan.
