Participating in activities like chess, journal writing, and educational classes in later life may help reduce the risk of dementia, according to a study.
The World Health Organization reports that over 55 million people worldwide have dementia, most of whom are older individuals.
However, experts have stressed that dementia is not an inevitable part of aging. Engaging in activities, maintaining a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking are among the lifestyle choices that can lower the risk.
New research now provides fresh evidence that challenging the brain can also be beneficial.
Researchers in the US and Australia published their findings in the journal Jama Network Open. They used data from the Australian Aspree Longitudinal Study of Older Persons spanning from March 1, 2010, to November 30, 2020.
Participants in the study were over 70 years old, did not have major cognitive impairment or cardiovascular disease when recruited between 2010 and 2014, and underwent regular dementia assessments.
In the first year, participants were asked about their social networks. They were also asked about leisure activities and outings, such as visits to galleries or restaurants, and the frequency: never, rarely, sometimes, often, or always.
The team analyzed data from 10,318 participants, considering factors like age, sex, smoking, education, socioeconomic status, and other diseases like diabetes.
The results showed that increasing the frequency of activities like writing letters or journals, taking educational classes, or using a computer by one category (e.g., from “sometimes” to “often”) was associated with an 11% lower risk of developing dementia over ten years. Similarly, more frequent engagement in activities like card games, chess, or puzzle-solving was linked to a 9% reduced dementia risk.
“In contrast, interpersonal networks, social activities, and external outings were not associated with dementia risk in this sample,” the researchers stated. However, they suggest this may be due to a limited number of lonely or isolated participants, making it difficult to observe an effect.
The study also indicated that more frequent involvement in creative endeavors like painting or woodworking was associated with a slightly lower risk of dementia, particularly among men.
The team found these trends even when excluding participants who developed dementia within three years of recruitment.
Nevertheless, the study has limitations, including reliance on observational data and the possibility that participants may have had healthier lifestyles and stronger community involvement than the general population.
James Rowe, a professor of cognitive neurology at the University of Cambridge, who was not involved in the research, said the study would help inform personal and public policy decisions to reduce the future dementia burden. He added that it added to the evidence suggesting that an enriched lifestyle involving creative and literary activities is linked to a lower risk of such conditions.
“But before spending hours on ‘brain games,’ we need to remember that this was not a placebo-controlled intervention trial,” he cautioned. “This means we don’t yet know the cause-and-effect relationship—the ability to take part in ‘good’ activities might indicate other health, educational, and socioeconomic advantages that are the reason for less dementia.”