HOW TO CUT YOUR RISK OF DEMENTIA BY HALF

KEEPING physically and mentally active in middle age could halve your risk of developing dementia, a study has revealed.

Researchers scored the activity levels of 800 women on how often they participated in mental and physical activities which included walking, needlework and gardening.

More active participants were less likely to have developed Alzheimer’s disease by the time the 44-year study ended.

Study author Jenna Najar, of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, said: “These results indicate that these activities in middle age may play a role in preventing dementia in old age and preserving cognitive health.

“It’s exciting as these are activities that people can incorporate into their lives pretty easily and without a lot of expense.”

During the study, 194 women developed dementia. Of those, 102 had Alzheimer’s disease, 27 had vascular dementia and 41 had mixed dementia, which is when more than one type of dementia is present.

Women with a high level of mental activities were 46 per cent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s and 34 per cent less likely to develop dementia overall.

The women who were physically active were 52 per cent less likely to develop dementia with cerebrovascular disease and 56 per cent less likely to develop mixed dementia.

Dr Rosa Sancho, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, added: “This research is more evidence that physical, mental and social activity all play a role in cognitive health.”