The saying goes: if you don’t use it, you lose it. Keeping your brain sharp with games, activities, and learning new things helps tremendously reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. When you regularly stimulate your brain, it’s like exercise for your brain and helps it stay healthy for longer.
How to Exercise Your Brain
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease. Clinical research is working hard to find effective treatments that may one day reverse or slow progression and hopefully prevent onset. Brain exercises, like memory games, are a great way to help your brain stay sharp and potentially reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s. Here are some fun and simple activities that can exercise your memory.
- Crossword puzzles and Scrabble – Challenge and expand your memory, creative thinking, and vocabulary.
- Learn a new skill – Taking a class or learning a new language is fun and encourages social interaction, which is also helpful for brain health. This can also include learning new technologies.
- Bird watching – Identifying and tracking birds in your area is a relaxing hobby that is easy to do at home or outdoors.
- Put on your dancing shoes – Dancing is exercise and challenges your memory with new steps and is a fun way to stay active.
- Visit a museum – Museums are thought-provoking and can teach you new things while getting exercise.
- Journaling – The pen is mightier than the sword. You can keep a journal recounting your thoughts and events from the day or even new things you’ve learned.
- Take a new route on your walk – Different sights and scenery can be refreshing for you and your memory.
Feel inspired yet? You can also do all of these activities with family and friends to make it even more memorable.
More Prevention Measures
The number of people living with dementia is expected to double every twenty years. Risk factors include family history, lifestyle choices, such as foods and exercise, and other health conditions. Researchers and physicians are working together to develop stronger prevention methods.
If you or a loved one is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease, consider options as a clinical research volunteer. Alzheimer’s prevention studies are enrolling now at North Georgia Clinical Research. Get involved in the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease today! Call (678) 494-5735 or visit our website to learn more. Read more about other prevention measures in our blog.
Sources:
https://homecareassistance.com/blog/ten-brain-stimulating-activities-may-reduce-risk-alzheimers
https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/preventing-dementia-brain-exercises
https://www.everydayhealth.com/senior-health/alzheimers-disease/12-fun-brain-games-adults/
https://ngclinicalresearch.com/alzheimers-getting-to-the-heart-of-prevention/
