Research says these things are key in preventing dementia

By Joe Morgan via SWNS

Gardening, learning an instrument or taking an art class in your later years could be key in preventing dementia, new research has discovered.

Taking up a new skill or hobby could keep the brain "plastic," more agile and able to recall memories at an easier rate, the study found.

Moderate-intensity physical activity, such as gardening or walking, also show promise of lowering the risk of cognitive decline.

Known as 'social prescribing,' the medical practice of asking patients to take on lifestyle activities with, or instead of, medical interventions have been growing in popularity.

The research found a causal relationship between taking on new hobbies or exercise and preventing a decline in cognitive health.

More than 4,000 older adults in Canada were tracked and their brain health was studied as they took on certain lifestyle factors.

"The global population of older adults is growing and the finding that lifestyle activities can help prevent cognitive health decline in seniors could lead to new clinical practices and better health outcomes," said Professor Sylvain Moreno, director of the Digital Health Circle.

“This study shows that even mild to moderate activity, such as gardening and walking, and learning such as music and art, can improve cognitive function in our seniors," said Dr. Grace Park, a regional medical director of Fraser Health, in British Columbia, Canada.

“Social prescribing can help seniors to engage in these activities by addressing barriers and setting achievable goals for the seniors.”

"Advancing our knowledge about how we might reduce our risk of developing dementia helps all of us to start now, to do what we can to support our cognitive health," said Jen Lyle, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia.