Can staying mentally active delay Alzheimer’s disease?

Staying mentally active may delay Alzheimer’s disease.

In a 2021 study, researchers followed 1,903 older people—the average age was 80—for seven years.

Of the 457 who were later diagnosed with dementia, those who initially reported more mental activity—like reading, writing letters, doing puzzles, and playing cards or board games—were diagnosed at an average age of 94, while those who were less mentally active were diagnosed at age 89.

Brain autopsies found no evidence that those who initially reported less mental activity were in the very early stages of dementia.

What to do

Though this kind of study can’t prove that mental activity delays dementia, what have you got to lose?

Photo: Prostock-studio/stock.adobe.com.