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If you ’ve ever want to try your hand at pottery or knitting , a new study suggest that doing so might be good for your wellness . Middle - eld and older grownup who do graphics and crafts activity and socialize may reduce their risk of exposure of the thought process and memory problem that can contribute to dementia , the study found .

Researchers followed 256 mass whose mean age was 87 at the first of the cogitation . Over four years , 121 participants developedmild cognitive disablement , a condition that think having thinking and memory problems , but trouble that are not severe enough to involve daily life .

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The people who betroth inartistic activitiessuch as painting or drawing , in both midway age and when they were 85 and older , were 73 percent less likely to train mild cognitive impairment than those who did not operate in artistic activities .

The people who engaged in craft activities such as carpentry or pottery were 45 percent less likely to develop meek cognitive impairment than those who did not enter in such activeness , the researchers find .

" hoi polloi aged 85 and old are the fastest growing population in the U.S. , " study author Rosebud O. Roberts , a investigator at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester , Minnesota , told Live Science . " They are also at great risk for dementia . " [ 7 Ways to Prevent Alzheimer ’s Disease ]

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The risk of developing modest cognitive disability was also 55 pct lower among those who socialized in midway age and when they were old , compared with those who did not socialize .

The mass who used a computer when they were 85 and older were 53 percent less likely to be diagnosed with soft cognitive damage than those who did not employ a reckoner .

It is not completely clear-cut why engage in these activities appear to aid lower a mortal ’s risk of meek cognitive impairment . However , " it is likely that these activity uphold [ the ] function of neurons , " Roberts say .

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The raw findings are consistent with the results of previous cogitation that have also demonstrated the benefits of cognitively stimulating andsocial activities , Dr. James E. Galvin , a professor of clinical neurology , psychological medicine and universe health at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York , who was not necessitate in the subject field , pen in a related to editorial . Such activity have been shown to frown the rate of cognitive decline , or slow up the development of Alzheimer ’s disease .

Moreover , " while we can not cure [ balmy cognitive constipation or Alzheimer ’s disease ] , there is increase grounds that disease risk may be modifiable , " Galvin write .

There are also other ways a person may be capable to tempt their risk mild cognitive stultification or Alzheimer ’s , Galvin wrote . hoi polloi with gamy blood pressure , diabetes , cardiovascular disease , high cholesterin levels in the lineage , obesity , poor dietand decreased social betrothal , may face a higher risk , he compose .

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The cogitation was published today ( April 8) in the daybook Neurology .

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Brain tissue from deceased patients with Alzheimer�s has more tau protein buildup (brown spots) and fewer neurons (red spots) as compared to healthy brain tissue.

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