Keeping your brain active has been shown to be an extra line of defense when it comes to fighting Alzheimer’s disease.
This seems to be true both when it comes to preventing the disease in those that do not have it and in slowing down its spread for those that are in the early stage of fighting it.
The newest piece of evidence demonstrating this comes from Japan, where a new study indicates that seniors that participate in adult education classes experience a lower risk of dementia. They found that people who were middle aged and higher were 19 percent less likely to experience Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia if they participated in adult education courses for a period of five years after completing their courses. Nonverbal reasoning skills were also improved in the individuals that participated.
This research comes from the Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer at Tohoku University, located in Sendai, Japan. The team published their findings in the journal, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. Hopefully, this research continues to grow and improve outcomes for seniors well into the future.
At this time, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, along with many other types of dementia. While doctors continue to find better methods of treating the disease, they still have not found a way to cure it. Research like this is helpful because it has the potential to help prevent dementia and improve the quality of life that people will experience as a result. This might not be a surefire method to prevent dementia in everyone who pursues education as they age, but it certainly has the potential to positively impact a lot of people.
It’s also worth noting that even if this has no impact on someone’s status when it comes to dementia, continuing education still has the ability to improve someone’s quality of life. There’s always more to learn about as we age, always new skills to pick up, and always things to grow more interested in. A class doesn’t necessarily need to be academic, it can be anything that someone’s interested in. Classes can even be for purely social reasons, giving someone an excuse to get out of the house and meet new people. If need be, technology can bring education right to you over the phone or computer.
Taking steps to improve your family’s life is important. Even if education isn’t the right fit for your family, there are other things that can be done to keep brains busy. Puzzles, games, and even conversations all play a vital role in supporting cognitive health as someone ages.
Memory care is a large part of what we can help with here at Paradise In-Home Care. If you have questions about how in-home care can help make life easier for your family, please get in touch. One of our professional caregivers would be happy to walk you through how in-home memory care can connect you and your loved one to the help that you need to thrive.
The world of senior care can be overwhelming. Paradise In-Home Care is here to make it easier to access.
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