A long life is a two-sided coin.

The joys of more time come with greater odds of experiencing some mental decline, but we’re not helpless.

We can delay, mitigate or in some cases, even prevent it.

Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease — it kills brain cells. An unlucky few are afflicted even before middle age, although average onset is over 60. There’s no cure, but it can be managed. Please note: Dementia and Alzheimer’s are not synonymous.

Dementia is a symptom, not a disease, which is correlated with Alzheimer’s, as well as strokes, certain brain injuries, and other conditions. According to the Institute of Dementia Research and Prevention, past age 85, up to 50 percent of us will develop dementia symptoms (including those with Alzheimer’s, who represent 70 percent of those with dementia).

Whatever its cause, dementia doesn’t look the same in everyone. How it manifests individually — even day-to-day in the same person — can be very different. Being in the best possible state of health helps.

In 2015 meta-data research (i.e., using gobs of prior studies) from the University of California identified nine risk factors for Alzheimer’s, most of which we can control: Obesity, high cholesterol and fatty deposits, less education (statistically linked to poor nutrition and health), depression, high blood pressure, frailty, smoking, and type 2 diabetes.

Exercise and healthy diet helped most of these conditions. People who drank coffee; took anti-inflammatory medicine, statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs or supplements), folic acid (which may help homocysteine levels), and vitamins C and E; and women who took estrogen also had lower risk.

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s is complicated, but the warning signs include:

Memory loss which disrupts daily life, especially information recently learned. This means more than forgetting where the keys are.

Changes in ability to plan or problem-solve, such as following a recipe or balancing a checkbook.

Difficulty completing familiar tasks, such as remembering the rules of a game or driving somewhere familiar.

Confusing time and dates.

Trouble with visual-spatial relationships, such as guessing visual distance, identifying color and contrasts, or reading.

Misplacing things or difficulty retracing steps (don’t worry; misplacing keys doesn’t equate to Alzheimer’s).

Changes in judgment, making poor decisions (more than once in a while), or poorer grooming habits.

Withdrawal from work and social activities.

Personality changes including confusion, depression, fear, anxiety.

Language problems, such as struggling to find words or follow a conversation.

Don’t panic if a few sound familiar. Some happen occasionally as a normal part of aging. It’s more about frequency and degree, especially with a noticeable change behavior norms.

Any of these may also be symptoms of other neurological or psychiatric conditions, so it’s important to consult a doctor if Alzheimer’s is suspected.

September is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. For more information and support see Alz.org.

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Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.