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A new study has shown that mentally stimulating activities such as computer use, games, creation and participation in social activities are linked to a lower risk or delayed memory loss due to lack of memory. age called mild cognitive impairment, and that the timing and number of activities may also play a role. The study is published in the online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
A mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a disease that is
common with aging. Although it is linked to problems of thinking ability
and memory is not the same as dementia. People with MCI have less
symptoms. They may have difficulty performing complex tasks or difficulties
understand the information they read, while people with dementia
have problems with daily tasks such as dressing, washing and eating
independently. However, there is strong evidence that MCI can be a
precursor of dementia.
"There is currently no medication that effectively treats mild cognitive impairment.
mental disability, dementia or Alzheimer's disease;
interest in lifestyle factors that can help slow brain aging that we believe
contribute to thinking and memory problems – low cost factors
and accessible to anyone, "said author of the study, Yonas E. Geda, MD, MSc, of
Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, and member of the American
Academy of Neurology. "Our study looked closely at the frequency with which people
participated in mentally stimulating activities both of middle age and
later in life, in order to consider when such activities might be most useful.
beneficial for the brain. "
For the study, researchers identified 2,000 people with an average of
78 years old who had no mild cognitive impairment. At the beginning of
During the study, participants completed a questionnaire on how often they
participated in five types of mental stimulation activities during
between ages 50 and 65 and later in life, between 66 and over
older. Participants then had thought and memory tests every 15 years.
months and were followed for an average of five years. During the study,
532 participants developed mild cognitive impairment.
The researchers found that the use of a computer at the average age was badociated
with a risk of mild cognitive impairment reduced by 48%. A total of
15 of 532 people with mild cognitive impairment, or 2%,
used a computer at the average age compared to 77 of the 1,468 people without
mild cognitive impairment, or 5 percent. Use a computer later
badociated with a reduced risk of 30% and the use of a computer
life at both the average and after age was badociated with a 37% decrease
risk of developing problems of thought and memory.
S engage in social activities, like going to the movies or going out
with friends, or play games, like making crosswords or playing cards,
in people of average age and later, were badociated with 20%
lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment.
Craft activities were badociated with a 42% reduced risk, but only later.
The more activities that people performed later, the less
likely to develop mild cognitive impairment. Those who
engaged in two activities were 28% less likely to develop memory
thought problems than those who did not participate in any activity, while
those who participated in three activities were 45% less likely,
those with four activities were 56% less likely and those with
five activities were 43% less likely.
"Our study was observational, so it's important to point out that
while we found links between a lower risk of developing mild cognitive
disability and various mental stimulating activities, it is possible
instead of activities that reduce a person's risk, a person with
mild cognitive impairment may not be able to participate in these
activities as often, "said Geda. "More research is needed to
investigate our results. "
One of the strengths of the study was the large number of participants;
however, participants were asked to remember how
often they participated in mentally stimulating activities in
middle age, up to two decades before the start of the study, and their memories
maybe not quite right.
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