Could computers, crafts help preserve the aging brain?
US News & World Report
by Steven Reinberg
Losing memory as you age is a sign of mild cognitive impairment, which can be a gateway to dementia or Alzheimer's disease. But using your brain can help keep it sharp, and it's never too late to start reaping the benefits, researchers say. Why keeping mentally active has this effect isn't known, but it might be that the brain responds positively to increased use, said senior researcher Dr. Yonas Geda, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. "It's like watering a flower," he said. It's also possible that people who engage in mental activities also have other good behaviors, such as exercising and eating a healthy diet, which benefit brain health, Geda said.
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Context: Yonas Geda, M.D. is a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist. Dr. Geda's research interest includes:
- Investigating modifiable lifestyle factors such as physical exercise, cognitively stimulating activities and daily total caloric intake; and their impact on aging and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- Examining the relationship between emotional behavior, aging and MCI; with particular interest in developing an early prediction model of dementia by utilizing neuropsychiatric and modifiable life style parameters in MCI.
Contact: Julie Janovsky-Mason
Tags: alzheimer's disease, brain health, dementia, Dr. Yonas Geda, mild cognitive impairment, U.S. News & World Report, Uncategorized