Engaging in intellectually stimulating activities throughout life, such as reading, writing, or learning a new language, may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by nearly 40%, according to a new study published in the journal Neurology.
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago tracked 1,939 people with an average age of 80 over eight years. Participants completed surveys about their cognitive activities during early life (before age 18), midlife (around age 40), and later life (average age 80). Those with the highest level of lifelong cognitive enrichment had a 38% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's and a 36% lower risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared to those with the lowest level.
The study found that people with the highest enrichment developed Alzheimer's at an average age of 94, compared to 88 for those with the lowest—a delay of more than five years. For MCI, the delay was seven years, with onset at age 85 versus 78. Autopsies on participants who died during the study also showed that those with higher enrichment had better memory and thinking skills and slower cognitive decline before death.
Lead author Dr Andrea Zammit said the findings suggest cognitive health in later life is “strongly influenced” by lifelong exposure to intellectually stimulating environments. She called for public investment in libraries and early education to spark a lifelong love of learning.
Dr Isolde Radford of Alzheimer’s Research UK, not involved in the study, said the research supports existing evidence that dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing and that staying mentally active can reduce risk. However, the study only shows an association, not causation, and relied on participants' recall of early and midlife activities.
