VOA常速英语:研究表明，保持精神活跃可以降低老年痴呆的风险

Exercising, putting together puzzles, socializing,these are some of the things researchers are looking at as ways to keep older adults from developing dementia.

Some studies focus on exercise.Exercise improves blood flow in the brain, and keeps it functioning both physically and mentally.

Other studies focus on mental activity.Researchers at the Mayo Clinic looked at brain stimulating activities to see if it could help older adults lower the risk of developing even mild cognitive impairment.

Mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, doesn’t interfere with everyday life,but those who have it are at greater risk for developing Alzheimer’s.

“This study is very important because dementia, MCI, these conditions are really common as we get older.We need to find out non-pharmacological approaches to decrease the risk of MCI or dementia.”

Geda of the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona co-authored a study that included 2000 healthy adults, 70 and older,to see if playing games, crafting, using a computer and staying socially active could reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment.

The researchers found that these activities even late in life helped stay off dementia, even in those who are genetically at risk.Only 15 percent of the participants developed mild cognitive impairment over an average of four years.

The mental activity doesn’t have to be a chore, Geda said.Just exercising your brain two to three times a week could reduce cognitive decline.The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Carol Pearson, VOA news, Washington.