Health
Continued Mental Activity Keeps Alzheimer's Away
A lot of advice about how to keep Alzheimer's disease away boils down to this: get off the couch. Moving your body and challenging your mind keeps both limber and, according to a study funded by the National Institute on Aging and The Alzheimer's Association in 2000, could help ensure that you stay Alzheimer's-free.
It's both mental and physical stimulation that keep the brain working, said lead study author Dr. Robert Friedland, associate professor of neurology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. "The brain is like any other organ in the body," he says. "It ages with regard to how it is used."
It's a no-brainer: to keep your noggin in shape, keep learning on a regular basis. Passive activities such as watching television don't provide the stimulation needed to keep your cerebral neurons firing.
Just how much does mental and physical activity matter? Well, the study found that people ages 20-60 who keep active outside the home are three to four times less likely to develop Alzheimer's than people who spend their time passively. Researchers followed the activities of people who did and didn't develop Alzheimer's disease and focused on activities five years before disease symptoms began. Those who developed Alzheimer's had been less active in their middle years and watched more television than the active, non-Alzheimer's group, who had participated in athletics, clubs and interpersonal interaction.
In other words, while your nightly couch surfing isn't hurting you, it's also not doing your brain a whole lot of good. When it comes to Alzheimer's disease and the brain, remember this: Use it or lose it.
It's both mental and physical stimulation that keep the brain working, said lead study author Dr. Robert Friedland, associate professor of neurology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. "The brain is like any other organ in the body," he says. "It ages with regard to how it is used."
It's a no-brainer: to keep your noggin in shape, keep learning on a regular basis. Passive activities such as watching television don't provide the stimulation needed to keep your cerebral neurons firing.
Just how much does mental and physical activity matter? Well, the study found that people ages 20-60 who keep active outside the home are three to four times less likely to develop Alzheimer's than people who spend their time passively. Researchers followed the activities of people who did and didn't develop Alzheimer's disease and focused on activities five years before disease symptoms began. Those who developed Alzheimer's had been less active in their middle years and watched more television than the active, non-Alzheimer's group, who had participated in athletics, clubs and interpersonal interaction.
In other words, while your nightly couch surfing isn't hurting you, it's also not doing your brain a whole lot of good. When it comes to Alzheimer's disease and the brain, remember this: Use it or lose it.
