Dementia Prevented by Hobbies Like Reading and Singing, Scientists Believe

A study of 800 women between 38 and 54 years old published in Neurology suggests maintaining hobbies in middle age could prevent dementia later on, reports Newsweek . Physical and cognitive activities like reading books, visiting art exhibits, gardening, being a member of a club, attending church, and singing in a choir were correlated with these findings. The women were labeled as inactive, engaging in light exercise, or regular exercisers. The results indicated that having hobbies that engage the brain and body in middle age reduce the risk of developing dementia and its subtypes in old age. Physically active participants tended to have a 56 percent lower chance of developing dementia than inactive participants. High-level mental activity corresponded to a 46 percent reduction in developing Alzheimer's, and 34 percent in dementia. "These results indicate that these activities in middle age may play a role in preventing dementia in old age and preserving cognitive health," noted the University of Gothenburg's Jenna Najar. "It's exciting as these are activities that people can incorporate into their lives pretty easily and without a lot of expense."