Lesen und Schreiben können das Demenzrisiko um fast 40 % senken. Laut Forschern wird die kognitive Gesundheit im späteren Leben durch den lebenslangen Kontakt mit intellektuell anregenden Umgebungen „stark beeinflusst“.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/feb/11/reading-writing-lower-dementia-risk-study-finds
6 Kommentare
>Reading, writing and learning a language or two can lower your risk of dementia by almost 40%, according to a [study](https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214677) that suggests millions of people could prevent or delay the condition.
>Dementia is one of the world’s biggest health threats. The number of people living with the condition is forecast to triple to more than 150 million globally by 2050, and experts say it presents a big and rapidly growing threat to future health and social care systems in every community, country and continent.
>US researchers found that engaging in intellectually stimulating activities throughout life, such as reading, writing or learning a new language, was associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, and slower cognitive decline.
>The study author Andrea Zammit, of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said the discovery suggested cognitive health in later life was “strongly influenced” by lifelong exposure to intellectually stimulating environments.
>“Our findings are encouraging, suggesting that consistently engaging in a variety of mentally stimulating activities throughout life may make a difference in cognition. Public investments that expand access to enriching environments, like libraries and early education programs designed to spark a lifelong love of learning, may help reduce the incidence of dementia.”
This really reinforces the idea of ‘use it or lose it’ for the brain. Mental stimulation as preventative healthcare feels massively underrated.
So, if you don’t use it, you lose it. I think we continually arrive at this conclusion 😉
„Video games rot your brain!“
ackshually…..
(I know it’s not what’s in the study but I’m pretty certain they are on the same spectrum of useful in this context)
Does Reddit count as reading?
Glad to hear that. At (gulp) 72 I still work as a science tech in a special needs school. Though admittedly part time now. I love finding new fascinating science to share. Running Denis and science experiments with our boys. Great fun to get them engaged alongside a fantastic science teacher.