How to Decrease Your Risk of Dementia with Cognitive Activities

Daviglus ML, Plassman BL, Pirzada A, et al. Risk Factors and Preventive Interventions for Alzheimer Disease: State of the Science. Arch Neurol. 2011;68(9):1185-1190.

·         Four cohort studies on the association between cognitive engagement and development of AD:

o   In all 4 studies, participants had normal cognition at baseline, and self-reported frequency of involvement in specific activities was assessed

o   All 4 studies showed a somewhat decreased risk of AD associated with greater involvement in cognitive activities.

Study 1

Verghese J, Lipton RB, Katz MJ,  et al.  Leisure activities and the risk of dementia in the elderly.  N Engl J Med. 2003;348(25):2508-2516
PubMed  |  Link to Article

·         Participation in leisure activities is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.

1.       reading,

2.       playing board games,

3.       playing musical instruments, and

4.       dancing.

·         Increased participation in cognitive activities at base line was associated with reduced rates of decline in memory.

Study 2

Akbaraly TN, Portet F, Fustinoni S,  et al.  Leisure activities and the risk of dementia in the elderly: results from the Three-City study.  Neurology. 2009;73(11):854-861
PubMed  |  Link to Article

·         Cognitively stimulating leisure activities may delay the onset of dementia in community-dwelling elders.

·         Cognitive activities in which seeking or processing information plays a central role.

1.       Doing crosswords,

2.       playing cards,

3.       attending organizations,

4.       going to cinema/theater, and

5.       practicing an artistic activity

Study 3

Wilson RS, Mendes De Leon CF, Barnes LL,  et al.  Participation in cognitively stimulating activities and risk of incident Alzheimer disease.  JAMA. 2002;287(6):742-748
PubMed  |  Link to Article

·         Frequent participation in cognitively stimulating activities is associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

·         7 common activities that involve information processing as a central component:

1.       viewing television;

2.       listening to radio;

3.       reading newspapers;

4.       reading magazines;

5.       reading books;

6.       playing games such as cards, checkers, crosswords, or other puzzles; and

7.       going to museums.

Study 4

Wilson RS, Scherr PA, Schneider JA, Tang Y, Bennett DA. Relation of cognitive activity to risk of .developing Alzheimer disease.  Neurology. 2007;69(20):1911-1920
PubMed  |  Link to Article

·         Level of cognitively stimulating activity in old age is related to risk of developing dementia.

·         More frequent participation in cognitive activity was associated with reduced incidence of AD.

·         Frequent cognitive activity was also associated with reduced incidence of mild cognitive impairment and less rapid decline in cognitive function.

·         Common activities in which seeking or processing information played a central role:

1.       reading a newspaper,

2.       playing games like chess or checkers,

3.       visiting a library, or

4.       attending a play