Small steps could reduce dementia risk

Joining a book club or signing up to learn a new language may well give your brain the mental stimulation it needs to ward off dementia.

A new study has found that having to engage in such activities in later life can help protect against cognitive decline, which in turn may reduce the risk of someone developing dementia.

Everything from playing chess to pottering around the garden can prove beneficial, but learning new skills or launching yourself into a brand-new hobby is arguably the most effective way to get a mental workout.

The Engage Your Brain report said: “It is never too late to benefit from cognitively stimulating activities, and you can learn new things at any age.

“In the same way that you need to maintain exercise for physical strength, you need to participate in mental activities to support the health of your brain.”

However, the study is more sceptical about the relative benefits of the many “brain training” apps and computer games which have grown in popularity.

The suggestion is that while these programmes may well improve a specific skill, be it vocabulary or memory, there is less evidence that they boost overall performance.

By contrast, going to Spanish classes or learning to paint appears to pay dividends.

James Goodwin, chief scientist at the charity Age UK, said: “Many people think that all thinking skills decline with age, and we know there is certainly a lot of fear around this happening.

“But decline is not inevitable, and there are plenty of activities that we can start today that can provide benefits for brain health.

“If they are new to you and require your concentrated attention they may even be activities that you do regularly in your life, such as playing with grandchildren, gardening or playing cards.”

SOURCE: care@home
The overriding impression seems to be that any kind of stimulus that engage the brain and our imagination can bring only benefits in the long run.