Computers, games and crafts keep the aging brain on the lookout

A new study reveals that participation in mentally stimulating activities, such as playing games, creating crafts and using a computer, is badociated with a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

A team of researchers investigated whether the timing, number, and frequency of brain stimulation activities at midlife and at the end of life are related to incident risk with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

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The study, published in Neurology of the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, aims to examine the impact of brain activities on the risk of MCI.

"At the present time, no drug effectively treats mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or Alzheimer's disease. There is a growing interest in lifestyle factors that could help slow brain aging, which would likely contribute to thinking and memory problems, inexpensive and accessible to all. "Dr. Yonas Geda, a doctor at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, said in a statement.

"Our study looked closely at the frequency with which people participated in mentally stimulating activities in the middle age or later, in order to determine when such activities could be very beneficial to the brain," he said. she added.

To arrive at the results of the study, the team determined 2,000 people without MCI. They were on average 78 years old. Prior to the study, participants completed a survey of the frequency with which they performed five forms of brain stimulation activities during their middle age (50 to 65 years) and later (65 years and older). ).

Next, the researchers performed memory and reflection tests every 15 months. They followed the participants for five years. During the course of the study, a total of 532 participants developed an MCI.

The results show that the use of a computer was badociated with a 48% decrease in the risk of MCI. In addition, the use of a computer later in life is badociated with a 37% reduction in risk, and those who used a computer in the middle and end of life were badociated with a reduced risk 38%.

Subsequently, those who engaged in social activities such as going out with friends, playing games, or solving crossword puzzles both in the Middle Ages and later in life had a risk of MCI reduced by 20% . Finally, home-made manufacturing is badociated with a 42% reduced risk, but only when they reach the end of their life.

In addition, those who were engaged in more activities had a relatively lower risk of myocardial infarction.

"Our study is based on observations, so it is important to note that although we have found links between a lower risk of developing a mild cognitive impairment and various mental stimulant activities, it is possible that instead of activities reducing the risk of a person, cognitive impairment may not be able to participate in these activities as often, "explained Dr. Geda. "More research is needed to deepen our discoveries," she added.

What is mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?

A mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a common medical problem with aging. It has been linked to memory and cognitive abilities, but it's not a type of dementia. Patients with MCI have lighter symptoms, which include problems understanding the information and difficulty completing the tasks.

On the other hand, in dementia, patients have to deal with daily tasks such as washing, eating, and dressing independently. But in some studies, MCI can be a potential driver and a precursor to dementia.

A mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the phase between the normal cognitive decline of aging and a more serious decline called dementia. This implies that memory, thinking, language and judgment difficulties are more pronounced than normal age-related changes.

A mild cognitive impairment may increase your risk of later developing dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease or other neurological conditions. But some people with mild cognitive impairment never get worse and a few get better.

According to the National Institute of Aging, the signs and symptoms of the ICM include forgetting things more often, important events such as appointments, difficulty finding words like the others of the same age, the feeling of being more and more overwhelmed by the decision making or the planning of the accomplishment of tasks. and is starting to struggle to navigate in familiar environments.

In some cases, those who have an MCI are at higher risk of suffering from apathy, anxiety, irritability, aggression and depression.

The National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Aging, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the GHR Foundation, the Alzheimer's Disease Research Program Robert H. and Claire Smith and Abigail Van Buren, Edli Foundation, Arizona The Alzheimer Consortium and the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research supported the study.