Keeping Mind, Body Active May Not Protect Against Underlying Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

New research proposes that stimulating activities known for preventing Alzheimer’s disease may not impact the underlying causes of the disease, as it is often believed. Researchers from the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston published a study in the journal Neurology detailing the study with 186 participants (age 74) who began with no symptoms of dementia or similar conditions. They were outfitted with sensors to measure their mental and physical activities in order to correlate activity level with eventual health status. While those with higher activity rates proved to have higher IQ and capabilities, there was no correlation between activity level and later diagnosis of cognitive decline. “This suggests that sustaining a lifetime of intellectual engagement may help preserve cognitive function into old age. In addition, our findings should not discourage people from engaging in physically and mentally stimulating activities, as they have been shown in numerous studies to generally offer many brain benefits,” said the study author. To learn more about this study, click here.