Can Exercising Your Brain Prevent Memory Loss?
Posted on: Friday, 20 February 2009, 09:40 CST
The study involved 197 people between the ages of 70 and 89 with mild cognitive impairment, or diagnosed memory loss, and 1,124 people that age with no memory problems. Both groups answered questions about their daily activities within the past year and in middle age, when they were between 50 to 65 years old.
The study found that during later years, reading books, playing games, participating in computer activities and doing craft activities such as pottery or quilting led to a 30 to 50 percent decrease in the risk of developing memory loss compared to people who did not do those activities. People who watched television for less than seven hours a day in later years were 50 percent less likely to develop memory loss than people who watched for more than seven hours a day.
People who participated in social activities and read magazines during middle age were about 40 percent less likely to develop memory loss than those who did not do those activities.
"This study is exciting because it demonstrates that aging does not need to be a passive process. By simply engaging in cognitive exercise, you can protect against future memory loss," said study author
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, Robert H. and
Additional audio and video resources, including excerpts from an interview with Dr. Geda describing the research, are available on the Mayo Clinic News Blog at: http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/02/09/exercise-your-brain-to-prevent-memory-loss/. These materials also are subject to embargo, but may be accessed in advance by journalists for
incorporation into stories. Please contact the AAN Media and Public Relations Department for the password to this post.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as multiple sclerosis, restless legs syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, narcolepsy, and stroke.
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com.
The AAN 61st Annual Meeting, the world's largest gathering of neurology professionals, takes place
To access 2009 AAN Annual Meeting abstracts available
Late-breaking abstracts will be featured in press release at the 2009 AAN Annual Meeting in
SOURCE American Academy of Neurology
Source: PR Newswire
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