Mental activities may decrease the risk of mild cognitive impairment

A study finds that engaging in brain-stimulating activities was associated with a lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment in adults 70 and older.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the intermediate stage between normal cognitive aging and dementia, so examining potential protective lifestyle-related factors against cognitive decline and dementia is important, according to the article.

“The frequency of MCI depends on age. In our study, we have observed that the frequency or prevalence of MCI is about 15 percent in people aged 70 or older,” says Dr. Yonas Geda. Dr. Geda and his colleagues studied around 2,000 cognitively normal adults, 70 years and older, to see if engaging in mentally stimulating activities are associated with a decrease in the risk of developing MCI. The respondents completed questionnaires about their activities and were put under assessment, including such for memory.

The research discovered that playing games, crafting, using a computer and engaging in social activities were associated with a decreased risk of MCI. According to Dr. Geda, this study is really important because dementia, MCI, and associated conditions become really common as people get older. He also adds that non-pharmacological approaches need to be found to decrease the risk of MCI and dementia.

(Featured image byアラツクvia Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0)