Expansionary Institute

Forum Admin
futurist3000@aol.com

April 26, 2002 8:00 CDT

Scientists have found compelling new evidence that people who spend long hours in front of television are at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Hobbies that exercise the brain, like reading, puzzles, chess and knitting, decrease a person's risk of brain dementia by two and a half times over television viewers, reports a resent study. This research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The study reports compelling evidence that watching lots of television increases the risk of Alzheimer's.

Dr Robert P. Friedland from Cleveland questioned 550 people in their 70s.

Friedland found that those who were busy with intellectual hobbies as young adults seemed more protected against degenerative brain conditions.

Friedland gathered information on each of the 550 people about their leisure activities during early and middle adulthood. He designated age group 20 to 39 as early adulthood and ages 40 to 60 as middle adulthood.

One hundred and ninety-three participants had Alzheimer's and the remainder of participants in Friedland's study did not. Information about previous leisure activities was gathered from family and friends from the Alzheimer's patients. The other adults were questioned directly.

Leisure activities were divided up into passive, intellectual and physical groups. Passive activities included watching television or listening to music. Intellectual activities included reading, puzzles, playing instruments, knitting and woodwork. Physical activities included swimming and walking.

Friedland found intellectual activities appeared particularly protective. His participants who took on mind-challenging hobbies were two-and-a-half times less likely to develop Alzheimer's than others in his study. Intellectual stimulation in early and middle adulthood did not provide absolute protection against Alzheimer's, but could delay the disease for years, Friedland said.

Barbara Workman, who works at Kingston Aged Care Centre, thought the research was important. Workman believes that if the brain is stimulated to work harder, it will take longer to weaken.

"I think that these things are a very simple preventative measure," Workman said. "People take great care in what they eat and exercise to prevent cardiovascular disease and these types of activities appear to provide protection for the brain."

Dr Richard Whiting, from Sunshine Hospital, commented that developing a strong neuronal network makes the brain more resistant to Alzheimer's.

"A number of diseases that affect us in old age can be prevented or have their impact lessened by your education, work and exercise practices during adulthood," Whiting said.
Source: The Australian Age
Cosmiverse Staff Writer