https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-07-crosswords-chess-socializing-dementia.html logotype Topics Conditions * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Click here to sign in with or Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Addiction * Alzheimer's disease & dementia * Arthritis & Rheumatism * Attention deficit disorders * Autism spectrum disorders * Biomedical technology * Cardiology * Dentistry * Diabetes * Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes * Endocrinology & Metabolism * Gastroenterology * Genetics * Gerontology & Geriatrics * Health * Health informatics * HIV & AIDS * Immunology * Inflammatory disorders * Medical economics * Medical research * Medications * Neuroscience * Obstetrics & gynaecology * Oncology & Cancer * Ophthalmology * Other * Overweight & Obesity * Parkinson's & Movement disorders * Pediatrics * Psychology & Psychiatry * Radiology & Imaging * Sleep disorders * Sports medicine & Kinesiology * Surgery * Vaccination * Asthma * Breast cancer * Cardiovascular disease * Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease * Colon cancer * Coronary artery disease * Dementia * Depression * Heart attack * Heart disease * High blood pressure * Influenza * Kidney disease * Leukemia * Lung cancer * Malaria * Melanoma * Multiple sclerosis * Myocardial infarction * Ovarian cancer * Post traumatic stress disorder * Rheumatoid arthritis * Schizophrenia * Skin cancer * Stroke * Type 2 diabetes * Full List >> [INS::INS] * * share this! * 163 * Twit * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Alzheimer's disease & dementia 1. Home 2. Gerontology & Geriatrics * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- July 15, 2023 Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread Crosswords and chess may help more than socializing in avoiding dementia by Monash University crossword puzzle Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Computer use, crosswords and games like chess are more strongly associated with older people avoiding dementia than knitting, painting or socializing, a Monash University study has found. Published in JAMA Network Open, the findings--some of the most robust on this topic to date--may help older individuals and aged care professionals plan more targeted approaches to reducing dementia risk. Researchers drew data from 10,318 Australians aged 70 and older participating in the ASPREE project and the ALSOP (ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons) sub-study. They found that participants who routinely engaged in adult literacy and mental acuity tasks such as education classes, keeping journals, and doing crosswords were 9-11 percent less likely to develop dementia than their peers. Creative hobbies like crafting, knitting and painting, and more passive activities like reading reduced the risk by 7 percent. In contrast, the size of someone's social network and the frequency of external outings to the cinema or restaurant were not associated with dementia risk reduction. The results remained statistically significant even when adjusted for earlier education level, and socioeconomic status. No significant variations were found between men and women. In 2022, 55 million people globally lived with dementia, with 10 million new cases each year. Senior author Associate Professor Joanne Ryan, from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said identifying strategies to prevent or delay dementia was a huge global priority. "We had a unique opportunity to close a gap in knowledge by investigating a broad range of lifestyle enrichment activities that older adults often undertake, and assess which of those were most strongly aligned with avoiding dementia," Associate Professor Ryan said. "I think what our results tell us is that active manipulation of previously stored knowledge may play a greater role in dementia risk reduction than more passive recreational activities. Keeping the mind active and challenged may be particularly important." The leisure activities assessed encompassed: * adult literacy activities such as adult education classes, using computers, keeping a journal * mental acuity tasks like completing quizzes and crosswords, playing cards/chess * creative hobbies like woodworking, knitting or painting * more passive activities like keeping up with the news, reading or listening to music * social network activities like meeting and interacting with friends * planned excursions such as going to a restaurant, museum or the cinema. Associate Professor Ryan said the results did not rule out that those naturally drawn to the types of leisure activities linked to cognitive health also had specific personality traits that were otherwise beneficial, or they may generally have had better health behaviors. "While engaging in literacy and mental acuity activities may not be a magic pill to avoid dementia, if that was your goal and you had to choose, our research certainly suggests these are the activities most likely to support prolonged good cognitive health," she said. Associate Professor Ryan said social connection may also still be quite important to cognitive health and mental well-being, even though it did not show a clear link with dementia risk in the study. "The participants were cognitively healthy, and were likely already leading socially active lives, such that the cognitive benefits of strong social networks may be less obvious in this group compared to the general public," she said. More information: Zimu Wu et al, Lifestyle Enrichment in Later Life and Its Association With Dementia Risk, JAMA Network Open (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.23690 Journal information: JAMA Network Open Provided by Monash University Citation: Crosswords and chess may help more than socializing in avoiding dementia (2023, July 15) retrieved 17 July 2023 from https:/ /medicalxpress.com/news/ 2023-07-crosswords-chess-socializing-dementia.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Explore further Which leisure activities are linked to lower risk of dementia? --------------------------------------------------------------------- 165 shares * Facebook * Twitter * Email Feedback to editors * Featured * Last Comments * Popular Fecal transplants correlated to distal symmetric polyneuropathy symptoms 7 hours ago 0 New method used to develop RNA therapy for the treatment of rare diseases 10 hours ago 0 Study shows that the translation of protein by microglia supports efficient phagocytosis Jul 13, 2023 0 Broadly neutralizing antibody treatment found to reduce viral reservoir in some infants with HIV-1 Jul 10, 2023 0 Mindfulness meditation could mitigate the adverse effects of fatigue on emotional processing Jul 7, 2023 0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- [gif] World-first clinical trial to help millions with penicillin allergies 2 hours ago [gif] Portable, low-cost tech tracks uterine contractions 2 hours ago [gif] First study to directly compare gene mutation type in individuals with CHAMP1 disorder indicates key differences 2 hours ago [gif] Racial disparities discovered in patients with cardiac devices 2 hours ago [gif] Researchers develop AI model to better predict which drugs may cause birth defects 2 hours ago [gif] Bacteria discreetly dwelling in throat revealed to be primary source of Strep A transmission 2 hours ago [gif] Space-ready menstrual cup a giant leap for womankind 2 hours ago [gif] Scientists reveal harmful impacts of immune hyperactivity in Down syndrome and how to normalize it with existing drugs 2 hours ago [gif] Study finds tracking brain waves could reduce post-op complications 2 hours ago [gif] Gene group influencing pain and brain communication can also influence alcohol use disorder risk 2 hours ago [INS::INS] * Related Stories [gif] Which leisure activities are linked to lower risk of dementia? Aug 10, 2022 [gif] New evidence links sight loss to dementia Jul 14, 2023 [gif] Social interaction reduces dementia risk and increases longevity Apr 27, 2023 [gif] What older adults do while they sit affects dementia risk, study indicates Aug 22, 2022 [gif] Having dementia and reduction in social participation are associated with increased depression and anxiety May 11, 2023 [gif] Study raises questions about role of leisure activity in dementia Oct 28, 2020 * Recommended for you [gif] COVID-19 vaccines saved dementia patients' lives in nursing homes, finds new study 7 hours ago [gif] Study suggests anti-inflammatory drugs as promising treatments for Alzheimer's disease 7 hours ago [gif] Third Alzheimer's drug represents 'opening chapter in new era' 8 hours ago [gif] New study shows truncated versions of Tau protein more likely to form sticky filaments in brains of Alzheimer's patients 9 hours ago [gif] New evidence links sight loss to dementia Jul 14, 2023 [gif] Study shows surprisingly low use of COVID antiviral treatments in nursing homes Jul 14, 2023 Load comments (0) Let us know if there is a problem with our content Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines). Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request [-- please select one -- ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message to the editors [ ] Your email (only if you want to be contacted back) [ ] Send Feedback Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors. Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages. E-mail the story Crosswords and chess may help more than socializing in avoiding dementia Your friend's email [ ] Your email [ ] [ ] I would like to subscribe to Science X Newsletter. Learn more Your name [ ] Note Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Medical Xpress in any form. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message [ ] Send Newsletter sign up Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. [ ] Subscribe More information Privacy policy Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X's mission by getting a premium account. Remove ads Maybe later Phys.org Phys.org Daily science news on research developments and the latest scientific innovations Tech Xplore Tech Xplore The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances ScienceX Science X The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web Newsletters [ ] Subscribe Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your email inbox Follow us * * * * * Top * Home * Search * Mobile version * Help * FAQ * About * Contact * Science X Account * Premium Account * Newsletter * Archive * Android app * iOS app * RSS feeds * Push notification (c) Medical Xpress 2011 - 2023 powered by Science X Network Privacy policy Terms of use Medical Disclaimer Your Privacy This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, collect data for ads personalisation and provide content from third parties. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. I'm OK with that Cookie options E-mail newsletter [ ] Subscribe Follow us * * * * It appears that you are currently using Ad Blocking software. What are the consequences? x Quantcast