TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Oct 28, 2020

According to a recent article in Psychology Today, mental stimulation and activity promotes better brain health and even a lowered risk of dementia. John Randolph, Ph. D. writes that “mental activity” could can be defined in many ways, but includes reading, playing a musical instrument, working a crossword puzzle, playing board games or cards, going to museums and more. He cites several recent studies showing that people who engage in these types of hobbies tend to have better memory, executive functioning skills and a reduced risk of dementia. In addition to hobbies, Randolph also mentions research that suggests having a more complex job has a “protective effect on the brain.” He also warns against being “mentally disengaged,” as it is associated with negative outcomes, including “atrophy in a region of the brain containing the memory-critical hippocampus.”