A study has found that millions of people could prevent or delay dementia, with reading, writing, and learning a language lowering the risk by almost 40%.
As reported by The Guardian, researchers in the US found that engaging with intellectually stimulating activities throughout life – like reading, writing, or learning a language – was associated with lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This is the most common form of dementia.
Dementia is one of the biggest health threats in the world, with the number of people living with the condition forecast to triple to more than 150 million by 2050. In turn, this threatens future health and social care systems across the globe.
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago tracked 1,939 people with an average age of 80 who did not have dementia at the beginning of the study, following them for an average of 8 years.
The participants completed surveys about their cognitive activities and learning resources in three stages of their lives:
During the study, 551 participants developed Alzheimer’s disease, and 719 developed mild cognitive impairment. The top 10% of people with highest cognitive enrichment were then compared with the bottom 10% with the lowest level. Of those in the top 10%, 21% developed Alzheimer’s, amongst the bottom 10%, the figure was 34%.
Researchers concluded that higher lifetime enrichment scores were associated with a 38% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and a 36% lower risk of mild cognitive impairment.
>Since you’re here, why not read about viral gut health foods: do they work?
Main image credit: Unsplash
