Games for Your Gray Matter: How Mental Stimulation Helps Prevent Dementia - Columbia Lutheran Home (2024)

FAQs

What is the best drink to prevent dementia? ›

There is evidence suggesting that drinking green tea intake might reduce the risk of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive impairment. According to a study published in Translational Psychology, tea drinkers are 16% less likely to develop dementia compared with non-drinkers.

Play games that involve your mind

Examples of brain-challenging games can include chess, tabletop games, video games, word and number puzzles, jigsaws, crosswords, sudoku and memory games. For games on your computer, your tablet or your phone, find games where you can play and interact with other people.

Physical exercise does not just mean playing a sport or running. It can also mean a daily activity such as brisk walking, cleaning or gardening. One study found that daily physical tasks such as cooking and washing up can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Several studies have connected nut consumption to a lower risk of dementia. While some research demonstrates improved memory and recall in people whose cognitive functioning is normal, other research has shown that nuts may even be able to improve memory in those who already have Alzheimer's disease.

Whole grains are rich in fiber, B vitamins and other nutrients and can reduce inflammation in the brain, supporting memory and warding off dementia. Whole grains such as quinoa, barley, brown rice and oats are great choices and can be healthier alternatives to more processed grains, such as white flour.

Treating high blood pressure with medication and healthy lifestyle changes, such as exercising and quitting smoking, may help reduce the risk of dementia.

Word and number puzzles

There's evidence that word and number games may have benefits for memory. Word puzzles include crossword puzzles and word searches. Number puzzles include games like sudoku.

As with crosswords, Sudoku can be a free activity. Many newspapers feature a daily Sudoku puzzle. You can also buy Sudoku puzzle books. Sudoku puzzles come in several levels of difficulty, so you can challenge yourself as much or as little as you like.

Moving your eyes from side to side can help improve the accuracy of your memory. That's according to psychologists Andrew Parker and Neil Dagnall, who say the beneficial effect could be related to sideways eye movements increasing interactive neural activity across the front of the two brain hemispheres.

What are six habits to reduce chance of dementia? ›

Finally, they were surveyed on their adherence to six lifestyle factors which had previously been identified to support brain health: physical exercise, social interaction, leisure activities, sleep quality, smoking status and alcohol consumption.

The top activities to prevent dementia include: reading books. playing word games. doing puzzles like crossword puzzles and sudoku.

You can't tell whether someone has dementia by looking in their eyes. However, vision loss commonly occurs among people with dementia. It's not clear whether vision loss causes dementia or vice versa. It may be that both sight loss and dementia are more common among older adults.

An NIA-funded study supports a predictive link between personality traits and dementia. The study found that conscientiousness, extraversion, and positive affect were associated with a lower risk for dementia while neuroticism and negative affect were associated with an increased risk.

Across the board, experts agree that eating leafy greens is essential for overall health, especially for your brain. Some of the green leafy vegetables that you can add to your meals are: Kale.

6 WORST HABITS THAT DAMAGE OUR BRAIN

Poo Diet: Eating a diet that is high in processed foods, sugary drinks, and unhealthy fats can damage your brain and impair your memory. Instead, focus on eating a healthy diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.

Many foods — blueberries, leafy greens, and curcumin (found in the spice turmeric), to name a few — have been studied for their potential cognitive benefit. These foods have been thought to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or other properties that might help protect the brain.