{"id":4962,"date":"2023-07-25T22:49:41","date_gmt":"2023-07-25T22:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/?p=4962"},"modified":"2023-07-25T22:49:42","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T22:49:42","slug":"simple-activities-like-journaling-playing-chess-may-reduce-risk-of-dementia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/?p=4962","title":{"rendered":"Simple Activities Like Journaling, Playing Chess May Reduce Risk of Dementia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20370%20247'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/post.healthline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/older-female-nurse-crossword-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268\" alt=\"Two women look at a crossword puzzle.\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/post.healthline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/older-female-nurse-crossword-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268\" alt=\"Two women look at a crossword puzzle.\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>About 5.8 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer\u2019s disease or related dementia.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A new study finds that mentally-stimulating activities may help reduce risk of dementia.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>There is no cure for Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Doing mentally-stimulating activities more frequently such as taking educational classes,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/how-to-keep-mood-journal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">writing in a journal<\/a>, or playing games or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/benefits-of-playing-chess\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">chess<\/a>&nbsp;may reduce the risk of dementia, a study suggests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/aging\/publications\/features\/Alz-Greater-Risk.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">5.8 million peopleTrusted Source<\/a>&nbsp;in the United States have Alzheimer\u2019s disease and related&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/alzheimers-disease\/alternative-treatments\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dementias<\/a>, which includes about 200,000 people under age 65.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This number is expected to more than double by 2060, with minority populations affected the most, the agency said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.alz.org\/alzheimers-dementia\/treatments\/medications-for-memory\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">medications<\/a>&nbsp;are available that may slow the progression of Alzheimer\u2019s disease or lessen certain symptoms, there is no cure for Alzheimer\u2019s or other dementias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, dementia is not an inevitable part of aging. Many&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/aging\/publications\/features\/dementia-risk-reduction-june-2022\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">lifestyle choicesTrusted Source<\/a>&nbsp;can reduce the risk of dementia \u2014 including staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking and treating high blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now researchers show that doing mentally challenging activities may be another way to keep your brain functioning well as you age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This study shows that \u201cmental activity, particularly what the researchers call \u2018literacy activities,\u2019 are protective of cognitive health in older adults,\u201d said&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hmsom.org\/academic-departments\/gary-small\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Gary Small<\/a>, chair of psychiatry at Hackensack Meridian Health at Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe results are consistent with a lot of other research that\u2019s been done, indicating that when you\u2019re using your mind, it engages your neural networks,\u201d said Small, who was not involved in the new research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So \u201cthe old saying, \u2018use it or lose it\u2019 holds true not just for physical exercise, but also for mental exercise,\u201d he told Healthline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a>Cognitive activities lower dementia risk<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the study, published July 14 in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2807256\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>JAMA Network Open<\/em>Trusted Source<\/a>, researchers examined information on over 10,000 Australian adults 70 years or older, or 65 years or older for Hispanic and Latino and Black participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Data on participants came from a long-term study of older adults from 2010 to 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the start of the study, all participants lived in community settings (outside of nursing homes), and had no major cognitive impairment or cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the first year, participants answered questions about their contact with close friends and close relatives, leisure activities, and trips to venues such as museums and restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout the study, research staff assessed participants for dementia during regular visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Researchers also considered factors such as age, sex, race and ethnicity, education, socioeconomic status, living situation,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/smoking\/how-does-smoking-affect-your-heart\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">smoking status<\/a>, alcohol intake, physical activities, body mass index (BMI), and whether participants had diabetes or other chronic diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The results showed that more frequent participation in activities such as educational classes, using a computer, and writing letters or in a journal was associated with an 11% lower risk of dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Similarly, people who more frequently did activities such as playing games, cards or chess, or doing crosswords or puzzles had a 9% lower risk of dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn contrast, interpersonal networks, social activities and external outings were not associated with dementia risk,\u201d the authors wrote. However, they suggest that this might be because too few participants in the study were&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/how-to-deal-with-loneliness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lonely<\/a>&nbsp;or isolated for an effect to be seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Creative artistic activities such as painting and woodworking were associated with a smaller reduced risk of dementia, but the results suggest that the effect was mainly among men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the study had a large number of participants, nearly all were white, so the results may not apply to other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, this is an observational study, so it can\u2019t consider all factors that could affect the risk of dementia. In particular, participants may have been healthier and more engaged with their community than the general population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uclahealth.org%2Fproviders%2Fkeith-vossel&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cgmohney%40healthline.com%7Cc174801670424faa723d08db86f0c27f%7C00e1df3d9626410c898c16aaa8c2afc9%7C0%7C0%7C638252140905776090%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=7uXiFfnC6zJPM0qs1jAq7evGxqRZxQQ%2BwxJeW1NPfyc%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Keith Vossel<\/a>, director of the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer\u2019s Research and Care at UCLA, also pointed out that the authors acknowledge that they could not rule out that some of the participants who developed dementia during the study had mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at the start of the study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPeople with MCI often begin to restrict their leisure activities to those that are less cognitively demanding,\u201d he told Healthline, which could affect the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, when researchers excluded people who developed dementia within the first three years of the study, adult literacy and active mental activities were still associated with a lower risk of dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a>Maintain an active mental life&nbsp;<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthybrainclinic.com\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Dung Trinh<\/a>, a physician in Irvine, Calif., and founder of the Healthy Brain Clinic, who was not involved in the research, said the study is valuable for older adults and their caregivers because it provides potential strategies to protect cognitive health and promote overall well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the authors of the study caution that more research is needed to know how much benefit would come from people starting up these activities later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/n.neurology.org\/content\/99\/15\/e1651\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">research<\/a>, though, suggests that leisure activities that keep us moving, challenge our brain and connect us with others are linked to a lower risk of dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, \u201cit is never too early or too late in life to start engaging in more active mental activities or adult literacy activities to protect the brain,\u201d Trinh told Healthline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In fact, \u201cstarting these activities earlier in life may offer additional benefits,\u201d he said, \u201cas cognitive reserve and brain health can be developed and maintained over time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Small emphasized that while it is important to maintain an active mental life as you age, you need to choose activities that you enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere\u2019s sort of a sweet spot,\u201d he said. \u201cIf something is too easy, it\u2019s going to be boring and not do much. If it\u2019s too hard, it\u2019s going to be stressful, and the person is going to give up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also recommends doing a variety of mental activities that will stimulate different parts of the brain, such as visual-spatial skills, verbal skills, memory, logical, etc. This will give you what he calls a \u201cfull brain workout.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes, though, mental challenges don\u2019t come from playing games or doing crossword puzzles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two-and-a-half years ago, Small moved from Los Angeles, where he was a professor at UCLA running a large research program on Alzheimer\u2019s disease and cognition, to take a bigger job running the Department of Psychiatry and behavioral health for a large health system in New Jersey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat was a challenging task \u2014 picking up and moving at this stage of my life and taking on these new skills,\u201d he said. \u201cBut my own personal experience is that I feel cognitively stronger as a result of those mental challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a>Positive attitude can support brain health<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drfotuhi.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Majid Fotuhi<\/a>, an adjunct professor at George Washington University and medical director of the NeuroGrow Brain Fitness Center in McLean, Va., said the new study is in line with other&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2803740\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">researchTrusted Source<\/a>&nbsp;showing that people with a positive attitude about aging had a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). These people were also more likely to improve their cognitive abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MCI is an early stage of memory loss or loss of other cognitive abilities. It&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.alz.org\/alzheimers-dementia\/what-is-dementia\/related_conditions\/mild-cognitive-impairment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">increases<\/a>&nbsp;the risk of dementia, but in some cases MCI can be reversed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the new study, \u201cindividuals who kept their brain active by participating in [cognitively] challenging leisure activities were more likely to stay [mentally] sharp,\u201d said Fotuhi, who was not involved in the new research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn order to have that, you need to have a positive attitude,\u201d he told Healthline. \u201cSo the underlying secret for keeping your brain sharp is to have a positive attitude, have a sense of purpose in life, look forward to aging and stay active.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, Fotuhi cautions that there is a difference between having a negative attitude and having depression, which is a disease that can have many underlying causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf someone in your family has depression, you need to bring it to the attention of their physician, and have their depression treated, just like diabetes or any other disease,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because many factors are involved in determining your risk of dementia, taking a whole body and mind approach may produce better results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fotuhi has developed a \u201cbrain fitness program\u201d that involves lifestyle coaching, cognitive training and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/adhd\/neurofeedback\/\">neurofeedback<\/a>. Patients are also evaluated for possible vitamin or other&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/vitamin-deficiency-in-women\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">nutrient deficiencies<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/healthy-sleep\/depression-and-sleep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sleep difficulties<\/a>, depression and underlying brain problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is a holistic program \u2014 not only stimulating people\u2019s brain with cognitive challenges, but also helping them with lifestyle choices like diet, exercise, and making sure they\u2019re sleeping well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a 2016 study in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpreventionalzheimer.com\/all-issues.html?article=183\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer\u2019s Disease<\/em><\/a>, 84% of older adults with MCI who did this program saw improvements in their cognitive function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These results show that \u201cif you have a holistic program, where you look at all individual aspects of a patient\u2019s problems, you will see amazing results,\u201d said Fotuhi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trinh cautions that while engaging in cognitive activities and adopting a healthy lifestyle can lower the risk of dementia, they may not prevent it entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIndividual factors, genetics and other variables can also contribute to the development of dementia,\u201d he said. \u201cTherefore, it is essential to consult healthcare professionals for personalized advice and guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a>Takeaway<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new study finds that certain simple activities such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/anxiety-prevention\/\">journaling<\/a>, playing chess or doing a crossword puzzle may be linked to decreased dementia risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/simple-activities-like-journaling-playing-chess-may-reduce-risk-of-dementia#Takeaway\">https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/simple-activities-like-journaling-playing-chess-may-reduce-risk-of-dementia#Takeaway<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Doing mentally-stimulating activities more frequently such as taking educational classes,&nbsp;writing in a journal, or playing games or&nbsp;chess&nbsp;may reduce the risk of dementia, a study suggests. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about&nbsp;5.8 million peopleTrusted Source&nbsp;in the United States have Alzheimer\u2019s disease and related&nbsp;dementias, which includes about 200,000 people under age 65. This number is expected to more than double by 2060, with minority populations affected the most, the agency said. While&nbsp;medications&nbsp;are available that may slow the progression [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mental-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4962"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4962\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4963,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4962\/revisions\/4963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}