Today, as “Brain Week” in my Daily Dispatch continues, I’m going to discuss a safe, science-backed way to significantly reduce your dementia risk as you get older.
The best part? It involves something you’ll actually enjoy!
Let’s jump right in…
More leisure activities tied to lower dementia risk
For a brand-new study published in the prestigious journal Neurology, researchers followed more than 8,000 adults, with an average age of 56 years, for more than 18 years. And they asked the participants about their leisure activities at the beginning of the study, five years later, and again 10 years later. The activities included:
- Gardening
- Listening to music
- Participating in clubs
- Playing cards or games
- Taking classes
- Taking part in religious activities
- Visiting friends and/or relatives
Then, researchers categorized the participants into three groups—low, medium, or high—based upon how often they engaged in these activities.
Over the next 18 years, 360 men and women developed dementia, at an average age of 76 years. But those who engaged in more leisure activities later in life (at an average age of 66 years), were 18 percent less likely to develop dementia during the following eight years, compared to those with lower participation.
And, on the flip side, a decline in leisure activity during the study was associated with a 38 percent increase in dementia risk.
The researchers also noted that some people who developed dementia had stopped participating in leisure activities years before their diagnosis. This finding suggests that reductions in the amount of leisure activities may be an early sign of dementia.
The researchers said, “It’s plausible that people may slow down their activity levels up to 10 years before dementia is actually diagnosed, due to subtle changes and symptoms that are not yet recognized.”
Reducing stress has major effect on health
In my view, it makes perfect sense that engaging in leisure activities protects against dementia…
Taking time out of your busy life to do something you enjoy reduces stress—the No. 1 silent cause of high blood pressure, heart disease, and Type II diabetes (three conditions that also increase your risk of developing dementia too). And, of course, reducing stress plays a major role in protecting brain health as well.
So, here’s my advice to you…
Make some time each day to unplug, relax, and unwind. Whether it’s by listening to some smooth jazz…working in the garden…enjoying time with your children or grandchildren…or joining a book club. The possibilities are endless. And the benefits to your brain (and your overall health) are enormous!
You can also look for quality supplements from a trusted source that contain simple, time-tested, science-backed, natural ingredients that support the brain, such as:
- 600 mg grape plus wild blueberry extract
- 400 mg turmeric (curcumin)
And finally, I urge you to check out my Complete Alzheimer’s Fighting Protocol for additional ways to keep your mind sharp over the years. To learn more about this comprehensive protocol, or to enroll today, click here now!
Source:
“Leisure activity participation and risk of dementia An 18-year follow-up of the Whitehall II Study.” Neurology, Nov 2020; 95 (20): e2803-e2815. doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000010966