Brain Fitness and Alzheimers

Tim: Hi! I am Tim. I live in Hardwick, Vermont. I am 56 years old. I have heard that brain exercise can actually prevent or delay the onset of the Alzheimer's disease and I am wondering what are some specific brain exercises, I can do at home.

Dr. Christopher Filley: Tim you are right. We do think that mental exercise to stimulate the brain is beneficial in may in fact help prevent diseases like Alzheimer's disease. I would recommend that you engage in activities that are meaningful for you, that are satisfying for you that really engage you in an ongoing and challenging intellectual task. Many people choose crossword puzzles, others prefer Sudoku, a good game of chess or bridge perhaps and then a good conversation or intellectual interaction with other people can be equally salutary for you. So whatever you choose, the idea is that you're using your brain much as you would exercise your muscles in physical workouts. So, it is the same idea and we think that whatever you choose to do, make sure that you are actively engage in it and you should really take a role in the process so that it does the best for you.


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