Ditch knitting and buy a computer to ward off dementia

Ditch knitting and buy a computer to ward off dementia

Silver surfers are protecting themselves against dementia, a new study suggests

Tech-savvy older people are helping ward of dementia, a new study suggests Photo: ALAMY

By Sarah Knapton, Science Editor

Older people hoping to hang on to their memory and thinking skills in later life should pack away their knitting needles and buy a computer, a new study suggests.

Silver surfers in their 70s are 42 per cent less likely to develop the mental problems which precede dementia, compared to technophobes.

Although knitting was found to have some benefit - reducing the risk of memory problems by 16 per cent - the pastime was nowhere near as effective as using a computer for as little as once a week.

"The results show the importance of keeping the mind active as we age."

Dr Janina Krell-Roesch, Mayo Clinic

More than 850,000 people in Britain suffer from dementia and mild cognitive impariment is often the first sign that the condition is on its way. However around 63 per cent of over-70s now spend 11-30 hours per week online which could lead to a significant reduction in the numbers of people developing problems.

The study of nearly 2,000 over-70s by the Mayo Clinic in the US looked at how everyday activities could ward off mental decline for older people over a four year period.

It is thought that mentally stimulating activities help build up a ‘cognitive reserve’ of new brain cells and neural connections which offset deterioration cause by ageing.

Simply reading a magazine regularly was found to lower the chance of neurodegeneration by 30 per cent. Completing crosswords or other puzzles reduces the chance of neurodegeneration by 14 per cent.

"The results show the importance of keeping the mind active as we age," said study author Dr Janina Krell-Roesch, of Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

"While this study only shows association, not cause and effect, as people age, they may want to consider participating in activities like these because they may keep a mind healthier, longer."

Silver surfers are unlikely to develop memory problems

All the volunteers had normal memory and thinking abilities when they signed up for the study. They were asked about their engagement in activities such as computer use, reading, crafting and social activities within 12 months before participation in the study using a questionnaire. They were then followed for four years to see how their memories and thinking abilities deteriorated.

A total of 193 out of 1,077 people (17.9 percent) in the computer use group developed mild cognitive impairment, compared to 263 out of 852 (30.9 percent) people in the group that did not report computer use.

People normally develop mild cognitive impairment before dementia, so preventing its onset is likely to delay conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

People who engaged in social activities were 23 percent less likely to develop memory problems than those who did not engage in social activities.

Recent research has suggested that people who learn a second language can also stave off mental decline as they age.

And in 2014 a study by Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, suggested regularly completing cryptic crosswords could knock 10 years off the age of the brain.

Studies have also found that people who read frequently, attend the theatre or museum, dance or play a musical instruments are also less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr Clare Walton, Research Communications Manager at Alzheimer’s Society said: “There is increasing evidence that staying mentally and socially active is an important way to keep our brains healthy as we age. This could include activities such as regularly doing puzzles, trying out arts and crafts or joining a book group. Although this research is only preliminary, it should be encouraging to today’s generation of silver surfers that using a computer might also help to keep memory sharp.

“Dementia, however, is a complex condition and we do not know what effect these activities have on the risk of developing it. Currently, the best evidence for reducing your risk of dementia is to exercise regularly, avoid smoking and eating a healthy, balanced diet.”

Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: "There’s increasing evidence that staying mentally active as we age can play a role in protecting brain health. This research highlights an association between taking part in activities like using a computer, knitting and staying socially active in later life and fewer memory and thinking difficulties.

"It’s important that researchers explore the link between staying mentally active and memory and thinking skills, so we can understand what role these sorts of activities could play in dementia prevention. With the number of people living with dementia in the UK set to rise to one million by 2020, it’s critical that researchers thoroughly investigate risk factors for the condition.”

The research will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 68th Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada, next month.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/elder/12182219/Ditch-knitting-and-buy-a-computer-to-ward-off-dementia.html

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