Reading, writing and learning one or two foreign languages can reduce the risk of dementia by 40% or even prevent it, according to a study.
The author of the study, Andrea Zammit of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said that this discovery suggests that cognitive health in old age is “strongly influenced” by lifelong exposure to mentally stimulating environments.
“Our findings are encouraging, suggesting that continuous engagement in a variety of mentally stimulating activities throughout life may make a difference in cognitive function,” she said.
The number of people living with dementia is projected to triple and reach more than 150 million worldwide by 2050.
Researchers followed 1,939 individuals with an average age of 80 who did not have dementia at the time and monitored them for the next eight years (on average).
At the end, they found that individuals with the highest level of knowledge throughout their lives developed dementia at 94 (on average), while those with a lower level did so at 88.
Researchers also examined participants who died during the study and underwent autopsy. The study found that individuals with a higher level of enrichment throughout their lives had better memory and cognitive abilities before their death.
Source: Guardian
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