Study suggests fun may deter Alzheimer's
[19 June 2003 - USA TODAY] Seniors who dance the night away, play bridge or practice a musical instrument may be doing more than just having fun: A new study suggests that these active seniors might be warding off the risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's.

With the mind in old age, it's use it or lose it
[18 June 2003 - Reuters Health] Keeping up leisure activities such as reading, playing board games and dancing may help the elderly stay mentally sharp into their later years, researchers said Wednesday. In a New England Journal of Medicine report, U.S. investigators found that people over 75 who engaged in leisure activities were less likely to show signs of dementia than others. But not all activities appeared equally effective in reducing dementia risk. For instance, people who reported frequently playing board games, reading, playing a musical instrument or doing crossword puzzles were less likely to develop dementia than those who said they engaged in those activities only rarely. ... While researchers investigate further the relative contributions of genes and environment to dementia risk, "seniors should be encouraged to read, play board games, and go ballroom dancing, because these activities, at the very least, enhance their quality of life, and they just might do more than that."

Study: Mental Fitness Wards Off Dementia
[18 June 2003 - Associated Press] An absorbing book or a challenging crossword puzzle may keep your mind more than busy. It may keep it healthy, too, according to a 21-year study of mental breakdown in old age. The study adds to the evidence that stimulating the mind can ward off Alzheimer's disease and other dementia, much as physical exercise can keep the body fit. The study was led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City and published in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. It was funded by the National Institute on Aging.