Want to avoid Alzheimer's? What the experts do themselves to slash their risk ... trends now

If you ask the average person what causes Alzheimer’s they’ll probably say ‘it’s in the genes’. 

But despite what you may fear, in reality, experts say only about one in 100 cases of the memory robbing disease are caused by genes. In fact, about 80 per cent of Alzheimer's cases are thought to be preventable. 

That's according to a group of 30 health experts across the US, UK, China and Japan, who believe we can reduce our risk of the disease by making simple diet and lifestyle changes. 

From cutting down on carbohydrates and sugar, taking omega-3 supplements and even keeping their gums healthy, MailOnline reveals what experts themselves do to cut their risk of Alzheimer’s. 

'I watch my sugar intake,' says Dr Robert Lustig, an expert in paediatrics and nutrition from the University of California, who has written extensively on how sugar can impact the brain. 

He added: 'Fructose, high in fruit juice and hidden in so many processed foods, is a primary driver of Alzheimer’s. If you want to prevent Alzheimer’s save your sugar for dessert.'

Sugar and the body's ability to process it, have been linked to Alzheimer's before.

Experts have previously noted that nerve cells in the brain may become resistant to the effect of insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar and glucose, in Alzheimer's patients in a similar way to those who have diabetes.

Harvard-trained psychiatrist Dr Georgia Ede also recommends cutting carbohydrates. 

'Alzheimer's is sometimes called "type 3 diabetes" because 80 per cent of cases show insulin resistance, which makes it difficult for the brain to use carbohydrate for energy. 

'A ketogenic diet improves insulin resistance and generates ketones from fat to help energize the brain,' she said. 

Canada’s Professor Stephen Cunnane, a psychologist from University of Sherbrooke's Research Centre on Ageing, claims his research shows that people in the early stages of Alzheimer disease could benefit from a ketogenic diet drink that boosts energy levels in the brain. 

The ketogenic diet, also known as the keto diet, involves cutting out almost all carbs and adding a high amount of fat and protein to every meal. The diet aims to force the body into burning fat for energy instead of glucose — a process known as ketosis.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain. It leads to a build-up of abnormal proteins that then causes nerve cells to die.

This disrupts the transmitters that carry messages, and causes the brain to shrink over time leading to classic Alzheimer's symptoms such as memory loss, confusion and communication difficulties making it the leading cause of dementia. 

But experts claim taking some vitamins may slow down this brain shrinkage. 

'It may be possible to prevent up to 80 per cent of dementia cases if all known risk factors, including homocysteine lowering B vitamins and omega-3, found in oily fish, were targeted,' Professor Jin-Tai Yu, director of the Institute of Neurology at Fudan University in Shanghai says. 

Professor David Smith, former deputy head of the University of Oxford’s medical science division agrees that prevention is the key to combatting Alzheimer's.

'With no clinically effective drugs, and minimal role of genes our focus must be on making diet and lifestyle changes that reduce risk of developing dementia,' he says. 

He says research suggests patients given vitamin B supplements with sufficient omega-3 intake experienced up to 73 percent less brain shrinkage.