Results of a recent study have added more support to the theory that staying socially and intellectually active can help to lower the risk of developing dementia. The six-year-long study of more than 700 adults aged 75 and over found that those who had an active social life, kept their mind active with books and crossword puzzles, or had hobbies such as cooking and gardening were more than 40% less likely to develop dementia over the study period. Physical exercise also appears to protect against dementia as participants who said they exercised each day were found to be roughly half as likely to develop dementia as those who were less physically active
SOURCE/REFERENCE: American Journal of Epidemiology 2002; 155:1081-1087
