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Can brain exercise protect you from Alzheimer's?
2 August 2005
I've been getting a lot of emails about my earlier Good Life Letters regarding dementia and Alzheimer's.
It's not surprising...
Dementia is a serious issue that could affect any one of us, or a loved one, at any time.
I've written a couple of times that the best way to ward off dementia in later life is to take regular mental exercise, like learning to dance or playing puzzles.
Some of you wanted to know more about the research behind this.
Well, the information first appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine.
But it's a hefty piece of scientific writing, and very boring to trawl through.
So I thought you might prefer to read a succinct piece about dementia from the BBC's online news service.
It has all the facts you need to know about this breakthrough
research...
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Dancing 'wards off dementia', from BBC Online
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Scientists have come up with yet more evidence to suggest that keeping the brain active can ward off senile dementia.
Researchers in the United States have found that dancing, playing musical instruments, reading and playing board games can all reduce the risks of developing the condition.
The findings back up previous studies which have suggested that doing crosswords or learning a new language have a similar protective effect.
Dementia affects an estimated 700,000 people living in Britain. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.
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Lifestyle factors
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Dr Joe Verghese and colleagues at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York carried out their study on 469 people over the age of 75.
At the start of the study, none of these people were living in nursing homes and none had dementia.
Five years later, more than a quarter had developed dementia.
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The researchers examined each person's lifestyle to see if they engaged in physical or mental activity.
They found no link between physical activity and a reduced risk of dementia.
People who exercised a lot were still at risk of developing the condition.
However, they did find a link between mental activity and a reduced risk of dementia.
People who exercised their brains were less likely to develop the condition.
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Brain exercise
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In addition, the more challenging the activity the less likely they were to develop dementia.
Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers said: 'Reading, playing board games, playing musical instruments and dancing were associated with a reduced risk of dementia.'
They added: 'Participation in leisure activities is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.'
They said further studies are needed to examine how mental activity wards off dementia.
Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, welcomed the study.
'This research confirms the 'use it or lose it' school of thought which provides evidence that complex and precise brain activity can build up a brain reserve that may protect people from Alzheimer's disease in later life.
'However, static mental exercise alone is not enough - the well being and improved general health that comes from many physical activities bring added benefits in preventing cardiovascular disease and falls.'
She added: 'Maintaining physical activity has been linked to better general health as people get older, preventing cardiovascular disease and falls and this research should not be taken as an recommendation to concentrate on cerebral exercise only.'
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I hope this encourages you to plan out your own 'dementia protection' regime.
And, after all, it's just a matter of playing games and puzzles!
Yours, as ever,
Ray Collins
The Good Life Letter
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