Start a New Hobby & Experience Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s

According to an article in Friend to Friend, a publication of Bankers Life and Casualty Company, one tip for brain health is starting a new hobby.  In the newsletter, they  mentioned that a 2003 study by the New England Journal of Medicine indicated a lower risk of dementia when people participated in leisure/recreational activities.

If you’re already involved in a hobby, you might want to start an new one.  It’s difficult for me to imagine people who aren’t interested in some type of hobby.  I’ve always had hobbies and interests; some have turned into small businesses.

However, if you find it difficult to become interested in an activity by yourself, see if there is a group nearby you can become involved with.  Our local senior center has much going on at a daily or occasional basis.

*Perhaps there’s a quilting group locally. 

*A reading/book discussion group at the library

*Take an adult education class.  I’ve had a number of older adults take my writing classes.

*Become involved in scrapbooking and writing family history

*Do crossword puzzles

*Put together jigsaw puzzles

*Take up golf

*Do oil or water color painting

*Do some woodworking

There are any number of hobbies and recreational pursuits that you can become involved in.  Perhaps you’d like to start again something you once gave up because of lack of time.