New research shows that mental activities such as reading, writing, and especially learning a foreign language are vital for brain health. According to a study published in the journal "Neurology," such activities reduce the risk of dementia by approximately 38–40 percent. Talip Asil, an expert in neurology at Biruni University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, stated that keeping the brain active is the most powerful method of protection against the disease.
Demokrat.az reports that in the study, specialists from the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago followed 1,939 individuals with an average age of 80 for eight years. The results showed that people with high lifelong mental activity had both a lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease and exhibited symptoms at an older age. In the group with the highest mental enrichment, the prevalence of the disease was 21 percent, while among those with lower activity, this figure was 34 percent.
Expert Talip Asil added that keeping the brain active increases cognitive reserve. Learning a new language simultaneously activates memory, attention, and executive functions, thereby strengthening connections between brain cells. Such activities delay the onset of the disease by an average of 5 years, which is a major advantage both for the individual's quality of life and for society.
Since mental exercises alone are not sufficient, experts emphasize that healthy nutrition, regular physical activity, and quality sleep are also important. Reading books, acquiring new knowledge, and other brain-stimulating activities are the best long-term investment for mental health. Along with managing chronic diseases, these steps help maintain mental vitality in old age.
06.03.2026, 06:55
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Zara Editor