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Studies show the multiple benefits of cognitive-stimulating activities like memory-related games, both for overall brain health and for those with Alzheimer's or dementia.
Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and word games are similarly beneficial for the brain; playing about 20 minutes a day can help reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease. Daily newspapers still run crossword puzzles, and there are many online options for testing your word recognition skills.
Examples of brain-challenging games can include chess, tabletop games, video games, word and number puzzles, jigsaws, crosswords, sudoku and memory games. For games on your computer, your tablet or your phone, find games where you can play and interact with other people.
dance, tai chi, yoga, swimming or joining a walking group to help keep you active and sociable – look out for local dementia-friendly swimming, gym and walking sessions. arts-based activities – drawing/painting classes, drama groups and book clubs can all help you stay involved.
Being active, eating a better diet, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, keeping normal blood pressure, controlling cholesterol and having low blood sugar in middle age may all lower the chances of developing conditions such as Alzheimer's disease later in life, research suggests.
While most changes in the brain that cause dementia are permanent and worsen over time, thinking and memory problems caused by the following conditions may improve when the condition is treated or addressed: Depression. Medication side effects.
Administration: The examiner reads a list of 5 words at a rate of one per second, giving the following instructions: “This is a memory test. I am going to read a list of words that you will have to remember now and later on. Listen carefully. When I am through, tell me as many words as you can remember.
"While some studies show that brain training games are not effective, the recollection and work that the brain does during these games keeps your mind fresh and alert," Avena said, adding that while anybody can benefit from them, they're most beneficial for older adults due to their declining cognitive function.
Research shows that there are health and lifestyle factors that indicate greater risk of developing dementia. While you may reduce that risk or delay the onset of dementia with physical exercise, mental exercise and improved diet, these activities do not guarantee prevention of dementia.
The researchers measured the participants' cognitive functioning every 12-18 months and noted their frequency of doing crossword puzzles. Researchers determined that, out of the participants who eventually developed dementia, those who frequently did crossword puzzles demonstrated a much slower decline in memory.
Taking at least 3,800 steps per day is linked to a lower risk of dementia, according to a recent study published online Sept. 6, 2022, by JAMA Neurology. Researchers tracked the daily steps of approximately 78,000 healthy people, average age 61, for 34 months.
Leading a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, healthy eating, and maintaining social contacts, decreases chances of developing chronic diseases and may reduce number of people with dementia.
In his theorising about personhood in people living with dementia, Kitwood (1997) identified five psychological needs experienced by people living with dementia, namely the need for comfort, attachment, identity, occupation and inclusion.
Lumosity
For instance, you have 8 memory games: Follow That Frog, Pinball Recall, Memory Match, and Familiar Faces. And 6 attention games: Star Search, Train of Thought, and Eagle Eye. Lumosity is freely available on Android and iOS play stores.
If you play brain games on your computer, you'll get better at those games — but it's unlikely to enhance your ability to carry out daily tasks or improve your performance at work or school. At the same time, there's no definitive proof that these programs don't work, and researchers continue to investigate them.
Several studies looking at the effect of aerobic exercise (exercise that increases your heart rate) in middle-aged or older adults have reported improvements in thinking and memory, and reduced rates of dementia.
The Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam, known as SAGE, is a brief, pen-and-paper cognitive assessment tool designed to detect the early signs of cognitive, memory, or thinking impairments. The test evaluates your thinking abilities. This can help your doctors understand how well your brain is functioning.
The Mini-Cog© is a fast and simple screening test to help detect dementia in its early stages. In just 3 minutes, Mini-Cog© can help doctors and other professional care providers identify possible cognitive impairment in older patients.