An Australian-first brain care clinic at a public hospital is attempting to prevent dementia before it starts, prescribing lifestyle programs to patients in the hope of protecting their brains.

Primary school teacher Anne Wall spends her days shaping young minds but she is now racing to protect her own.

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“I had noticed little things like sometimes I can’t remember a word for something and words are what I really love,” Wall said.

“My husband’s got a great memory and he’ll say, remember when we did something or other? And I’ll go, no.”

Her GP referred her to the new Brain Care Clinic at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, an Australian-first program focused on tackling dementia.

“I don’t want to be in a care home,” she said.

The group follows a strict diet, exercise regime and sleep program. Blood pressure and cholesterol are tracked, as well as social connection and intense brain training.

Anne Wall started noticing her failure to remember things. Credit: 7NEWS

She’s a primary school teacher. Credit: 7NEWS

Patients will be tested at eight weeks, six months, then a year to see whether it worked.

Training with Anne is 84-year-old Mary Lou and 69-year-old Jo Healy-North. Dementia runs in her family.

“I have a sister who has early onset, which is gruesome. It’s just awful,” Healy-North said.

The brains behind the clinic believe up to 50 per cent of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed by addressing lifestyle risks.

Professor Bruce Brew, Senior Neurologist at St Vincent’s, said there’s good evidence it can work.

“There’s good evidence that it can be prevented at a population level. More likely it’s delaying onset. But even delaying onset has significant advantages,” Professor Brew said.

Jo Healy-North’s sister has early onset dementia. Credit: 7NEWS

Some of the physical exercises at the clinic. Credit: 7NEWS

Almost half a million Australians are living with dementia, now the country’s leading cause of death.

There is no cure for dementia, making prevention increasingly important.

If this Australian-first approach proves successful, it could become a blueprint for hospitals around the country.

Anne is hopeful for her future.

“I’m going to be a grandmother this year. My first grandchild at Christmas. So that’s very exciting,” she said.

“The best gift.”