Computer use, crosswords and games like chess are more strongly associated with older people avoiding dementia than knitting, painting or socializing, a Monash University study has found.Pity I don't like crosswords, or chess!
But as for computer use, does keeping a blog count? Yes, I would think so:
They found that participants who routinely engaged in adult literacy and mental acuity tasks such as education classes, keeping journals, and doing crosswords were 9-11 percent less likely to develop dementia than their peers.
Creative hobbies like crafting, knitting and painting, and more passive activities like reading reduced the risk by 7 percent. In contrast, the size of someone's social network and the frequency of external outings to the cinema or restaurant were not associated with dementia risk reduction.
Doesn't seem much of a reduction, though.
Bad news Steve. Exercise trumps all for cognitive preservation. That was first argued by a key creator of neuroimmunology, Mark P. Mattson. Exercise benefits depression for the same reason. Brain derived neurotrophic factor is a key player in maintaining synaptic connections and alleviating depression. BDNF also stimulates new synapses which is vital because synapses come and go; strange as that may seem. A lot of the apps miss the point. Doing the same thing isn't learning, it is just reiteration. The challenge of learning requires a different set of processes in which BDNF is integral. Or it might just be an increased blood flow effect. I dunno, but my view is that exercise, even brisk walking, is better than sudoku style activities. Ideally, some exercises that place demands on fine motor coordination(Tai Chi anyone?) probably also has benefits because neuromuscular junctions over the decades can degenerate.
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