Reading, doing yoga and spending time with family ‘may lower dementia risk’

By The Press Association Aug 11, 2022

According to a recent study, those who engaged in leisure activities had a 17% lower risk of developing dementia than those who did not.

Reading a book, doing yoga and spending time with family and friends may help lower the risk of dementia, according to a study.

Researchers reviewed existing studies that looked at the effects of mental activities, physical activities and social activities and the risk of dementia.

They found that leisure activities such as making crafts or playing sports were linked to a reduced risk of dementia.

According to the study, those who engaged in leisure activities had a 17% lower risk of developing dementia than those who did not engage in leisure activities.

Study author Lin Lu, of Peking University Sixth Hospital in Beijing, China, said: “Previous studies have shown that leisure activities were associated with various health benefits, such as a lower cancer risk, a reduction of atrial fibrillation, and a person’s perception of their own wellbeing.

“However, there is conflicting evidence of the role of leisure activities in the prevention of dementia.

“Our research found that leisure activities like making crafts, playing sports or volunteering were linked to a reduced risk of dementia.”

Professor Lu said: “This meta-analysis suggests that being active has benefits, and there are plenty of activities that are easy to incorporate into daily life that may be beneficial to the brain.

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