Alzheimer's: Writing and Reading Can Reduce Dementia Risk by 40%

Daily writing and reading, as well as learning a foreign language, can protect cognitive health and reduce the risk of dementia, according to new research.

American scientists from the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that these activities can reduce the risk of dementia by almost 40%. The study was published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Dementia is a significant health threat worldwide, with the number of sufferers projected to exceed 150 million by 2050.

Andrea Zammit, the study's author, emphasized that cognitive health is affected by exposure to environments that stimulate intellectual function throughout life. The research supports that continuous engagement in activities that stimulate intellectual function can make a difference.

The research involved 1,939 people with an average age of 80 years, who were monitored for approximately eight years. Participants completed questionnaires about cognitive activities and learning resources at various stages of their lives.

The results showed that those with the highest level of cognitive enrichment had a 38% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and a 36% lower risk of cognitive impairment. The onset of the disease was delayed by approximately five years in this group.

Dr. Izolde Radford, from the Alzheimer's Research UK, stated that maintaining mental activity throughout life can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by almost 40%.