Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Scientists Believe Keeping A Few Very Simple Hobbies Can Help Prevent Dementia

Dementia, an umbrella term for the variety of neurodegenerative diseases that tend to appear during a person's old age, currently affects millions of Americans every year. 5.7 million Americans have Alzheimer's, the most common variety of dementia, but scientists researching the disease have found one way individuals may be able to lower their risk of contracting the disorder.


The Swedish scientists concluded that keeping mentally-stimulating hobbies like dancing, singing, and reading books through your middle-age could significantly lower the risk of developing dementia as you grow older. Other hobbies which help included "visiting art exhibitions, gardening, being a member of a club, attending church and singing in a choir."


For the study, researchers gathered data on 800 women aged 38 to 54 and checked back in on them every decade from 1968 to 2012. The researchers also scored the participants from 0 to 10 based on their activity level, dividing their hobbies into "intellectual, artistic, manual, club, and religious categories."


Publishing their findings in the medical journal Neurology, the scientists found that the women who were active through mid-life were an astonishing 56% less likely to develop dementia as they grew older and those who engaged in high-intensity mental activity were 46% less likely to contract Alzheimer's disease.


Dr. Jenna Najar from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, a co-author of the study, commented to Newsweek:

"These results indicate that these activities in middle age may play a role in preventing dementia in old age and preserving cognitive health. It's exciting as these are activities that people can incorporate into their lives pretty easily and without a lot of expense."


Dr. Rosa Sancho, head of research at the charity Alzheimer's Research U.K., told Newsweekthat the study's findings highlight middle-age as a key time to prevent degenerative diseases at a relatively low cost:

"Midlife is increasingly seen as a key time when it comes to reducing dementia risk, however keeping physically and mentally active can hold benefits for people of any age, so it is never too early or too late to adopt a lifestyle that supports a healthy brain...While there is no sure-fire risk way to prevent the condition, our brains don't operate in isolation from the rest of our bodies and a good rule of thumb for everyone is that what is good for your heart is also good for your brain."


Dr. James Pickett, head of research at Alzheimer's Society, also agreed that a person's mid-life was a prime time to focus on their brain's health, but warned that the study, which focused only on Swedish women, may not have the sweeping worldwide implications it suggests:

"Dementia is very complex so there's rarely a single reason why someone develops it, but lifestyle factors can affect our chances."


Scientists continue to search for the cause of dementia, which could help them end the disease once and for all. A group of researchers recently suggested that Alzheimer's may be caused by the same bacteria which causes gingivitis and gum disease. Hopefully, with time, we can end these neurodegenerative disorders once and for all!

More from News

Lynda Carter; Screenshot of Donald Trump
Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Images; Newsmax

Lynda Carter Hilariously Channels Wonder Woman In Response To Trump's Claim About 'Undetectable' Planes

After President Donald Trump touted the U.S. military's "stealth" planes that he described as "undetectable," Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter responded to his claim with a funny quip sure to delight fans of her iconic character.

Earlier, Trump boasted about the military's capabilities in remarks to reporters in the Oval Office amid heightened concerns about the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict that is sending shockwaves throughout the Middle East and around the world:

Keep ReadingShow less
red flag with pole on seashore
Seoyeon Choi on Unsplash

People Break Down The 'Silent Red Flags' Folks Tend To Ignore In Relationships

A red flag has come to mean any warning sign in life, in addition to the literal red flags that are placed on beaches or industrial sites to warn people of danger.

People will respond to situations by saying, "That’s a red flag." But before that language evolved, they'd just call them "warning signs."

Keep ReadingShow less
Ted Cruz; Tucker Carlson
The Tucker Carlson Show

Tucker Carlson And Ted Cruz Get Into Shouting Match Over Iran In Bonkers Interview Clip

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz—a harsh Donald Trump critic-turned-MAGA minion—sat down with fired Fox News personality Tucker Carlson for the conservative influencer's self-produced online content,The Tucker Carlson Show, for the Tucker Carlson Network.

On Tuesday, Carlson shared a 1.5-minute clip revealing that things got contentious when the pair touched on the Trump administration's escalating tensions with Iran.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Barack Obama
Suzanne Plunkett-Pool/Getty Images; Scott Olson/Getty Images

Resurfaced Trump Tweet Criticizing Obama Over Iran Comes Back To Bite Him

Amid tensions with Iran, President Donald Trump was criticized for hypocrisy after social media users resurfaced a 2013 tweet in which he accused former President Barack Obama of planning an attack on Iran because of his "inability to negotiate properly."

Trump has declined to clarify whether the U.S. is edging closer to launching strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, following a warning from Iran’s supreme leader against any attack and a rejection of Trump’s demand for surrender.

Keep ReadingShow less
​​Elon Musk
Allison Robbert/AFP via Getty Images

Anti-Elon Banner at Stanford

Stanford University graduates were given creative advice from above as an airplane flew over the graduation ceremony with a banner reading, “CONGRATS! DON’T WORK FOR ELON.”

The moment was captured last Sunday during the university’s 134th Commencement ceremony, where the Class of 2025 received their degrees at Stanford Stadium.

Keep ReadingShow less