But he emphasized that being mentally active throughout life — not just in old age — was what mattered.
Many studies do find that being mentally active is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Carers and people with dementia emphasized the importance of being mentally active, attributing a wide range of cognitive, emotional, and functional benefits to taking part in mentally stimulating activities.
Our mental faculties are not fixed, he said: "People who are mentally active and alert will likely benefit, and the couch potatoes who do not exercise themselves intellectually will pay a price".
The criteria for inclusion of subjects into the control group were that they were mentally active, as evidenced by occupation or educational participation, but they took little physical activity: less than two hours of endurance type exercise per week, no exhaustive and no resistive exercise.
Post-mortem examinations have shown that people who were mentally active throughout their lives, with no sign of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, nevertheless had the same degeneration of the brain seen in those who suffered serious dementia while alive.
Successful self-care involves having contacts with the health care system, being conscious of a sound lifestyle, being physically and mentally active, being engaged, having social contacts with family and others, as well as being satisfied, positive, and being able to look forward.
10 It has also been shown in a group of older people with high sense of coherence that successful self-care involves having, when needed, contact with the health care system, being conscious of a sound lifestyle, being physically and mentally active, being engaged, having social contacts with family and/or others, being satisfied and positive, and by looking forward.
Successful self-care involves having contacts with the health care system, being conscious of a sound lifestyle, being physically and mentally active, being engaged, having social contacts with family and others, and being satisfied and positive and looking forward.
The global brand, which the company claims "gives wings to people who want to be mentally and physically active and have a zest for life" has a number of spin-offs.
Ninety-one-year-old Vivian is mentally sharp and active, but about two years ago, her arthritis got so bad she really started to struggle, and was finding it harder and harder to live on her own.
