INTELLECTUAL ENGAGEMENT
One study of over 10,000 people found that higher frequency of engagement in adult literacy (e.g. journaling, taking classes, computer usage) and puzzles/brain games were associated with a 9 - 11% reduction in dementia risk.
Early-life education is linked to better cognition in later life and reduced dementia risk. Occupation and lifestyle enrichment also contribute to cognitive reserve and may help prevent dementia. For older adults, lifestyle enrichment may be particularly important because these complex activities require critical thinking, language usage, logical reasoning, and social interaction. While the adage “if you don’t use it, you lose it” may be overly simplistic, there is ample evidence to suggest that intentional cognitive engagement later in life is critical.
An early landmark study found that cognitive training programs can improve thinking abilities, and these improvements persisted for five years.
Regular completion of crossword puzzles delayed the onset of dementia by more than two years.
A study out of the Mayo Clinic found that older adults who participated in mentally stimulating activities were at lower risk of developing cognitive impairment over four years.
One study found that healthy older adults who played a game designed to improve processing speed had a 29 percent lower risk of dementia a decade later.