Try the following activities, to give your brain a workout and delay the onset of dementia later on in life.

• Read a book
• Do a crossword
• Play board games
• Play card games
• Write something
• Have a group discussion
• Play a musical instrument

In a study conducted by Hall and colleagues at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York, participants aged between 75 and 85 were asked how often they took part in the above activities. The more activities a person engaged in, the later the onset of mental decline. Those most active saw a decline 1.29 years later than those who were least mentally active. It is believed that brain exercise enables the brain to better cope with the neuron damage which leads to dementia. Although it cannot prevent it, such brain activities can delay it.