DOCTOR’S NOTE
Chores such as washing up and gardening cut the risk of Alzheimer’s by 21%, a study suggests.
Housework was the second biggest protective activity behind brisk walks and bike rides, which cut cases by 35%.
Meeting up with family and friends was linked to 15% lower rates, Sichuan University in China found.
Lead author Prof Huan Song said: “We wanted to know more about a wide variety of lifestyle habits and their potential role in the prevention of dementia.”
The team analysed health data from 501,376 older people. Those who did the most physical and mental activities were least likely to be diagnosed with dementia over an average 11-year follow-up period.