Mental aerobics may prevent Alzheimers

Use it or lose it.

This old adage can be applied to many things, and apparently the brain is one of them.

A couple of years ago, neuroscientist Dr. Gary Small (director of the center for aging at the University of California) told the BBC that exercising the brain on a regular basis with “mental aerobics,” such as crossword puzzles or learning a new language, may help prevent the brain deterioration that leads to Alzheimer’s. He also stressed that the benefits of brain exercising would be helped considerably if accompanied by regular physical exercise, a diet of antioxidant-rich foods, and a minimum of stress.

Dr. Small’s theory about gray matter gymnastics was confirmed by a recent study published in the journal Neurology. Researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio recruited about 360 subjects to examine the association between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and types of occupations. About 120 of the subjects were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Occupational demands for each subject were assessed for four decades of life: the 20s through the 50s.

The results: AD cases were significantly lower among subjects who experienced greater mental demands in their occupations, while AD cases were markedly higher among those whose occupations required more physical than mental demands.

Exactly why higher levels of mental activity produce fewer AD cases is still open to speculation. Nevertheless, evidence continues to mount that an active brain may be more likely to stay healthy as it ages.

So use your head and keep that brain moving.

Sources:
“Worker Functions and Traits Associated with Occupations and the Development of AD” Neurology, Vol. 63, No. 3, August 2004, neurology.org
“Work ‘May Ward off Alzheimer’s'” BBC News, 8/10/04, news.bbc.co.uk
“Brain Exercise Wards off Alzheimer’s” BBC News, 8/7/02, news.bbc.co.uk