Even in ancient times, people were aware that aging could bring memory loss and that some of their elders faced the sad prospect of "senility" or "second childhood." Yet only in the past 20 years has Alzheimer's disease (AD) been recognized as a defined illness.
An estimated 4 million Americans now have Alzheimer's disease (AD). While its exact causes are unknown and there is still no cure, scientists have discovered encouraging news: the more you engage in mentally stimulating activity, the lower your risk of developing AD.
Robert S. Wilson, Ph.D., and colleagues at the Rush Alzheimers Disease Center and Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes Medical Center in Chicago, Ill. studied over 800 older Catholic nuns, priests and brothers without memory problems across the United States. During the 4.5 years of the study, 111 participants developed Alzheimer's.
The research, published Feb. 13 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that those who engaged in the most mentally stimulating activities had the lowest risk of developing AD.
So what sorts of activities are considered mentally stimulating? They can be as simple and pleasurable as reading newspapers, magazines or books; playing games such as cards, checkers, crosswords or other puzzles; or going to museums, plays, or other events that get you thinking.
