Several studies have proven that a variety of activities that stimulate mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing can possibly delay the onset of dementia caused by diseases such as Alzheimer’s. This is thought to be due to the effects of cognitive reserve, which is the concept of developing your brain to help defend it against cognitive decline by learning additional abilities. What works well for one individual might not work for another, so it’s important to determine what feels good for you and to partake in activities that you enjoy, and to have a healthy balance of hobbies to exercise both the body and the mind.
There are many activities that exercise our brain and have been reported to aid in delaying dementia. One example of this is learning to speak a second language. The largest study on bilingualism and dementia, took place in Hyderabad, India, where citizens speak a variety of languages naturally. The study, published in the journal, Neurology, revealed that bilingual patients developed dementia an average of 4.5 years later than monolingual ones. The authors report that these effects could occur because, “The constant need in a bilingual person to selectively activate one language and suppress the other is thought to lead to a better development of executive functions.” A study conducted in France has revealed that another strategy to prolong mental activity and keep dementia at bay, is to delay retirement. According to Carol Dufouil, a scientist at the French government’s healthy agency INSERM, the study concluded that those retiring at the age of 65 were 15% less likely to develop dementia than those who retired at the age of 60.
Physical exercise has also been studied as a means for delaying dementia and it’s symptoms. One recent study published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, found that leisure activities and exercises such as Tai chi can slow fading memory. The idea is that isolation and the lack of activities can lead to depression, which leads to cognitive decline. In addition, most evidence seems to show that sports and activities that patients have participated in since a younger age can be most beneficial. So whether their favorite sport is golf or tennis or dance, seniors should be encouraged to keep up the activities that they have practiced throughout their lives.
Exercises that stimulate emotions are also crucial for delaying dementia or memory decline. Visiting with loved ones, reminiscing about memories, looking at photos, and cooking special family meals together can help improve the quality of life for patients with dementia. A great craft idea is a memory box, which contains items with a link to a previous experience or a specific time. A memory box can stimulate the emotions by evoking memories. These memories can help spark conversations, create feelings of happiness, and encourage socialization though reminiscing for patients with dementia. You can create a general memory box, or individual boxes to help recall specific events.
Eldercare Services periodically hosts a 10-week course called BE! Brain Enrichment, an interactive educational experience for adults experiencing memory decline. For more information on registration, please visit the Eldercare events page. Delaying dementia could help extend and improve the quality of your life!
- For over 50 games to train your brain, check out Lumosity.
- For a complete, step by step guide to playing Mah Jong, take a look at the Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Playing Mahjong.
- Check out Duolingo for a complete free tutorial to learn a second language. It includes written and oral exercises as well as quizzes, and they also have a great mobile app.
- For a fun craft to enjoy with your loved one, here are some tips to make a memory box.
- Help for Alzheimer’s families has an abundance of information for dealing with the disease.