12-17 YOU COULD BE KINDER

Starved of sleep, our brains become overworked and don’t function properly, so if you’re an insomniac, avoid having electronic devices in the bedroom. The glow they emit suppresses the production of melatonin, interfering with dropping off and remaining asleep.**

Be careful, too, if you said you need a high carb intake to help you sleep, as refined carbohydrates raise blood sugars, damaging memory and brain structure.

‘We’ve known for decades Alzheimer’s is brain inflammation,’ says neurologist David Perlmutter, ‘and carbs and sugars inflame pathways to the brain.’

Take heart if you spend your leisure time in the pub. While drinking isn’t ideal for your health, socialising can help boost your grey matter. Adults who socialise have been shown to have more stimulated brain cells, meaning they are less likely to develop dementia, found research in the Journal of Gerontology. Just watch the alcohol units you’re downing each week – prolonged consumption can cause your brain to shrink.