"Think of the brain not as a muscle, but as a series of muscles you want to exercise. The goal is to try new things that engage different parts of the brain and form new neural connections." Dr. Sanjay Gupta, neurosurgeon
Doing crossword puzzles is not as beneficial as once thought. What we need to do are various activities that work a variety of parts of our brain. Some things that do form new neural connections are learning a new skill; such as a new language or reading books you have never read before. But, the most effective way to avoid dementia is physical exercise. Physical activity - It is important to include cardio which gets the blood pumping and resistance which builds muscle. Both are important. It is also important to control our blood pressure, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and maintain strong social networks. It is too late to prevent dementia in the one for whom we provide caregiving, but it is not too late to prevent it in us.
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