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Doing puzzles and reading books have been linked with a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and a new study may explain why — it reduces the accumulation of harmful proteins in the brain.In the study, older adults who said they engaged in mentally stimulating activities throughout their lives had fewer deposits ofbeta-amyloid, the hallmark protein of Alzheimer’s. The findings were true regardless of the participants’ gender or years of education.
The findings suggest that cognitive therapies that stimulate the brain may slow the progression of the disease, if applied before symptoms appear, said study researcher William Jagust, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley’s Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute.
The researchers note Alzheimer’s is a complex disease that likely has more than one cause. In addition, other lifestyle factors not accounted for in the study may influence the link.
The study is published online today (Jan. 23) in the journal Archives of Neurology.