Staying mentally active may delay Alzheimer's, dementia: Study
A new study finds that keeping your brain busy—think reading, writing, or learning new things—was associated with a 38% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease (and a 36% lower risk of mild cognitive impairment) after adjustment.
Researchers tracked 1,939 participants with an average age of 80 for eight years and saw that those who stayed mentally active were much less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment.
Brain games and beyond
People who read books, learned languages, visited museums, or even played games like checkers, puzzles or board games were among the activities measured; the study reported associations for a composite lifetime enrichment score rather than showing that those specific activities individually produced the largest benefits.
Those with the most mental stimulation got Alzheimer's about six years later than those with the least.
Even after some developed dementia, folks who'd kept their minds active had better memory and slower decline.
The takeaway? Making time for brainy activities now could really pay off later.