Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia

Leisurely Pursuits Tune The Brain

by Medindia Content Team on Jan 9 2006 7:14 PM

A new study has revealed that leisurely pursuits of people appear to tune the brain of people, while also keeping Alzheimer's disease at bay. The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons’ neuropsychologist Yaakov Stern led the research study. As many as 1,800 older adults were studied over a period of seven years during the course of the research.

The more leisurely pursuits they engaged in like just visiting friends, playing cards or going to the movies, the lower was the risk of developing Alzheimer's, according to the study. The study found that better-educated people could sustain more brain damage before they lose mental ability. "I'm convinced they have resources that provide a reserve," Stern said.

Adults who lead stimulating lives may develop more neurons, more connections between neurons, or more efficiency in using their brain cells, says another neurologist David Bennett of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. They may also create needed detours around brain blockages in response to the demands of daily life, much in the way a commuter is able to find quicker routes home.

Edited IANS


Advertisement