The load on the brain in old age can reduce the risk of developing dementia – scientists
[ad_1]
A new study has found that stress on the brain in old age can reduce the risk of dementia, writes The Guardian. Dementia is a syndrome of permanent impairment of cognitive functions due to organic damage to the brain. This disease often occurs in the elderly. The results of a study by scientists from Australia and the United States indicate that using a computer or keeping a diary reduces the risk of the disease by 11% over a 10-year period. Playing chess and studying can also help. Photo: realinemedia/Depositphotos According to the World Health Organization, more than 55 million people suffer from dementia. These are mostly elderly people. At the same time, experts have long stressed that disease is not an inevitable part of aging. Activity, smoking cessation and a healthy diet are factors that reduce the risk of its appearance. Scientists have found that stress on the brain can also be beneficial. Researchers from Australia and the United States reported in the journal Jama Network Open how they used data from the Australian Aspree Longitudinal Study of Older Persons. It covered the period from March 1, 2010 to November 30, 2020. Participants of the study were people over 70 years old. In addition, they were free of cognitive impairment and cardiovascular disease when they were recruited between 2010 and 2014. Participants were regularly screened for dementia. They were asked about social networks, visiting restaurants, galleries, etc. To the question “how often?” you could answer: never, rarely, sometimes, often or always. The team analyzed the data of 10,318 participants. During the process, age, gender, education, smoking status and other diseases were taken into account. It found that activities such as journaling or studying, when the frequency of these activities increased by one category – for example, from “sometimes” to “often” – were associated with an 11% reduction in the risk of developing dementia over 10 years A similar situation was with such activities as playing chess, playing cards, or solving puzzles. In this case, a 9% risk reduction was recorded. “In contrast, interpersonal contact, social activities and walking were not associated with dementia risk in this sample,” the researchers said. They also suggest that the results were due to too few lonely and isolated participants. In addition, it was observed that painting and woodworking also reduced the risk of dementia. However, mostly among men. These trends persisted even when participants who developed dementia within 3 years of recruitment were excluded. The study has limitations because it is based on observational data. In addition, participants were able to lead healthier lifestyles and be more involved in their community than the general population. We remind you that earlier it became known that scientists have developed a drug that slows down dementia. Read also: More than 4 billion people will be overweight or obese by 2035 – report
[ad_2]
Original Source Link
