A lifetime of engaging with language and the written word – including reading books, writing, and learning languages – could be one of the best ways to keep your mind sharp and delay or prevent dementia, according to a new study.
The study, from a team at Rush University Medical Center in the US, found that decades filled with these activities could reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by as much as 38 percent, and reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment by as much as 36 percent.
That's comparing participants who scored highest on the "cognitive enrichment" scale with those who scored the lowest, in a sample group of 1,939 individuals. Participants had an average age of 80 at the start of the study, and their health was tracked for an average of almost eight years.
"Our study looked at cognitive enrichment from childhood to later life, focusing on activities and resources that stimulate the mind," says neuropsychologist Andrea Zammit.
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