Compared to their peers who do not challenge their minds, elders who engage in mentally stimulating activities may be at a lower risk for developing mild cognitive impairment. Researchers surveyed patients various activities and how frequently they did those activities per week. For those elders age 70 and older, playing games that are cognitively stimulating was associated with a 22% reduced risk in new-onset mild cognitive impairment, a condition that usually occurs before getting dementia. Additionally, working on crafts, computer use, and social activities were similarly credited with reducing the risk of mild cognitive impairment. Ultimately, researchers suggested that elders keep their minds sharp by doing something engaging and fun that they enjoy spending time on.
See Brain Games Linked to Delayed Cognitive Decline in Elderly, Fox News, February 1, 2017.
