A recent (2025) milestone in Australia's health statistics should concern all of us.

Dementia has become Australia's leading cause of death.

For many families, dementia isn't just a statistic—it is the heartbreaking loss of a loved one, even before they are gone: the loss of memories, of independence, of relationships and, ultimately, of their quality of life.  You've seen it, close up.  

And if you haven't, it's only a matter of time...

While age is the greatest risk factor, a growing body of research continues to show that  many of the factors that influence our brain health are within our control. The deliberate (or often, unconscious) choices we make today -how (and what) we eat, whether we exercise consistently, how we manage our quality of sleep, the way we manage stress and whether we stay mentally and socially engaged (think about whether you have a "purpose") - all have a profound impact on our future brain health.

That's why I created meldrego.com, the reason why it exists.

My goal isn't simply to help people live longer; it's really about Quality of Life. It's about helping people remain viable, independent and mentally sharp for as many years as possible.

To help you better understand dementia and, more importantly, what you can do to reduce your risk, I've put together a three-part series of articles:

Part 1: Understanding Dementia Risk and Protecting the Brain Through Cardiovascular Health

Part 2:  What Science Says About Reducing Your Risk

Part 3: Other Strategies You Can Start Today

Granted. None of us can change our age or our genetics.

But we can influence many of the lifestyle factors that support a healthy brain throughout life.

If these articles encourage even one person (you?) to make positive changes today that protect their (your?) brain tomorrow, then the time I have put into these sites have served their purpose.

Please share these articles with your family and friends. The more people who understand that brain health can be nurtured, the greater the opportunity we have to change the future, to make for a better Quality of Life.

Here's to growing older with strength, vitality and a healthy mind.  On this site, we call it Quality of Life.