Psychologist recommends activities that stimulate the brain and help prevent cognitive diseases
Keep the active and healthy brain is essential for preventing the risk of dementia – and exercises that stimulate visual perception and spatial orientation are on the list. They challenge the brain and can help maintain healthy cognitive skills.
Furthermore, for people already diagnosed with dementia, cognitive training can play an important role in improving symptoms and maintaining quality of life.
“Although they cannot reverse the course of the disease, the same prevention exercises can also help to maximize remaining cognitive abilities and compensate for the affected areas”, explains Lizandra Arita, psychologist at Clínica Mantelli.
In conversation with the My life, the expert spoke about the best mental exercises that reduce the risk of dementia. Keep reading!
Read more: Senile dementia: understand which types of dementia can affect the elderly
Keeping your mind active and challenging it with mental exercises is a great way to delay and prevent the development of dementia. According to psychologist Lizandra Arita, some simple exercises include:
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Drawings and paintings
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Puzzle
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Crosswords
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Sudoku
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memory games
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Learn a new language
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Learning to play a musical instrument
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Read regularly
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Learn a new recipe
“Learning something new, like a new skill or hobby, stimulates the brain in a positive way”, says the expert. “Even simpler memory exercises, like trying to remember shopping lists or people’s names after meeting them, can strengthen your ability to remember.”
She further explains that reading regularly also stimulates the brain’s cognition. “Use books, magazines, newspapers, or online articles to keep your brain engaged and exposed to different types of information,” she adds.
She further indicates that regular physical exercise has also been linked to cognitive benefits, including a reduced risk of dementia. “Activities such as weight training, walking, swimming or dancing help improve blood flow to the brain, promoting health and well-being.”
Finally, the psychologist says that interacting with other people, participating in social activities and maintaining meaningful connections can also benefit cognitive health, stimulating the brain in different ways.
Read more: Music for the elderly: see the benefits for mental health
Dementia is a syndrome that consists of the deterioration of memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to carry out daily activities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dementia can be related to several factors, with aging being one of the most frequent reasons for the development of the condition. Several diseases may be behind the causes of dementia. In the case of irreversible, or degenerative, dementias, the most common are:
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Alzheimer’s disease
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Dementia with Lewy bodies
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Vascular dementia, resulting from a series of small cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs)
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Frontotemporal dementia, a degeneration that occurs in the frontal lobe of the brain and can spread to the temporal lobe
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Brain tumour
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Metabolic dementia, in which there are changes in blood sugar, sodium and calcium levels
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Low levels of vitamin B12
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Normotensive hydrocephalus
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Use of certain medications, especially some to treat cholesterol
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Chronic alcohol abuse
