• Mentally stimulating activities like reading and crafting can significantly benefit brain health, according to a study by the University of South Australia.
• Conversely, activities like watching TV or playing video games were found to be detrimental to cognitive abilities.
• The study suggests breaking up sedentary activities with bursts of physical activity or cognitively-engaged seated activity.
• This research adds to the growing body of evidence highlighting the importance of mental stimulation in maintaining brain health and reducing the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.

Engaging in mentally stimulating activities during downtime, such as reading, can significantly benefit brain health, according to a groundbreaking study conducted by the University of South Australia (UniSA). The research assessed the 24-hour activity patterns of 397 adults aged 60 and above, revealing that socially or mentally stimulating activities such as reading, playing musical instruments, crafting, or conversing with others are beneficial for memory and cognitive abilities.

On the other hand, activities such as watching television or playing video games were found to be detrimental. The researchers believe that these findings could help reduce the risks of cognitive impairment, including dementia. Maddison Mellow, a co-author of the study from UniSA, stated, We already know that physical activity is a strong protector against dementia risk, and this should certainly be prioritised if you are trying to improve your brain health.

Mellow recommended breaking up time spent watching TV or gaming with five-minute bursts of physical activity or more cognitively-engaged seated activity. This advice is particularly relevant considering the World Health Organization's estimates that over 55 million people globally have dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed annually.

The Global Impact of Dementia

In Australia alone, about 411,100 people are living with dementia, with nearly two-thirds being women. The research team, which included Mellow, Prof Dot Dumuid, Dr Alexandra Wade, Prof Tim Olds, Dr Ty Stanford, Prof Hannah Keage, and Associate Prof Ashleigh Smith, along with researchers from the University of Leicester and the University of Newcastle, emphasized the need for a more nuanced approach when considering the link between sedentary behaviors and cognitive function.

Historically, the link between mental stimulation and brain health has been a topic of interest for researchers. For instance, a study published in the journal Neurology in 2013 highlighted the link between excessive daytime sleepiness, lack of enthusiasm, and the development of motoric cognitive risk syndrome, a condition marked by slow walking speed and complaints of memory problems among older people who don't already have dementia or a mobility disability.

Historical Similarities and Future Implications

The risk of developing dementia more than doubles in those with this syndrome. Another study found that anxiety could nearly triple the risk of developing dementia years later, providing another reason to address anxiety early. Chronic anxiety was defined as having anxiety at both the first and second waves of the study. Anxiety that resolved within the first five years was so unassociated with greater risk that the odds were similar to those without anxiety.

In addition, a study found that a blood test could catch 90% of early dementia cases. The test measures tau protein 217, which is an excellent indicator of amyloid pathology. Increases in p tau-217 concentrations in the blood are quite profound in Alzheimer's disease. At the dementia stage of the disease, levels are more than 8 times higher compared with elderly without Alzheimer's.