To exercise your brain - and you can prevent Alzheimer's disease

Any classes that stimulate the brain, such as reading or chess, have a huge impact on the probability of developing Alzheimer's disease in older people. Like any other organ, the brain must constantly use. Common sense dictated by the principle of "use it or lose it" has received scientific confirmation in 2007 when the journal Neurology published the results of a large-scale investigation, dubbed "Project Rush Memory and Aging study."

This study involved more than 700 residents of Chicago at the age of about 80 years. Scientists have observed the development of their mental capacity for five years. By the end of the period, 90 participants were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and another 102 people died.

scientists came to the conclusion that, if a person is in old age remains intellectually active, the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease had three times lower than on the basis of tests of mental abilities and taking into account the previous occupation of participants, their long-term socio-economic status and the current level of social and physical activity, than the one who does not stimulate your brain on a regular basis.

According to the study, the same applies to the less significant forms of deterioration in mental abilities than Alzheimer's disease. Stimulating the brain activity, even as simple as chatting with friends, reading, going to the theater or solving puzzles, help delay mental decline and maintain normal brain function even in old age, says Andreas Moritz in the book "No Alzheimer's disease!".

It is important to train the brain so that it continues to function normally. This, however, applies to any part of the body. As the bike will rust and fall apart if he forgot all, lying in the rain, in the same way and the brain begins to lose its neural connections, if not to use them.

It is worth noting that the task of continuously stimulate the brain should not be taken by you as an unfortunate necessity. On the other hand, training the brain, using it your best, you make your life a lot more colorful and interesting.

From time to time in the news flashed scenes of a century-old long-distance runner, who miraculously maintains good health, or a person who refuses to retire at 85 years and continues to work full-time, or other wonderful elderly people who do not let age to prevent them from doing what they like. It is important to understand that these people are not just lucky, they are reaping the benefits of their chosen many years ago lifestyles. The ability to regularly do things like that, not only makes our lives richer, but also helps us to feel good and maintain good health, regardless of age.

Not to fall into the trap into which many fall in our modern society, coming home after a hard day's work and sitting in front of a TV for the whole evening. Take instead something interesting. Think of a hobby that you are fond of in their youth, discover something new that will ignite the passion in you, inspire you. If nothing comes to mind, look at the list of ideas to get you started:

- listen to music;
- Dance or sing;
- play a musical instrument;
- draw;
- Writing poems, articles or stories;
- keep a diary;
- to read;
- To solve crosswords or sudoku, jigsaw puzzles;
- Play board games like Scrabble;
- Sign up for training courses;
- to learn foreign languages;
- go camping;
- To engage in a specific sport;
- Run or ride a bike;
- Gardening;
- travel;
- Cook;
- Do needlework;
- Handicrafts furniture;
- Sewing, knitting;
- Engaged in a photo;
- Visit the zoo or botanical garden;
- Spending time with friends, children, pets;
- Go to concerts or to the stadium.

These are just some of the great number of opportunities to enrich their lives, to make diversity in the daily routine and maintain brain health in old age.