A new study shows that keeping your brain active throughout life may help delay Alzheimer's disease. Intellectual activities, such as reading, writing, learning new languages, playing mind games, solving puzzles, or visiting museums, are associated with a lower risk of developing dementia.
Neuropsychologist Andrea Zammit from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, who led the study, explains: “These activities increase brain activity and the way of thinking, using different cognitive systems.”
Even for those who have not performed such activities before, it is not too late to start. Middle age is an important period for protecting brain health.
The study involved nearly 2,000 older adults, who were followed for eight years. The results showed that those who engaged their brains more throughout their lives delayed the onset of Alzheimer's by about five years compared to those who didn't. A concept called "cognitive reserve" suggests that learning and mental activity strengthen neural connections and help the brain be more resistant to damage that comes with age or disease.
Experts also recommend physical exercise, blood pressure control, good sleep, and vaccinations even at a later age to protect the brain.
