Brainy jobs reduce risk of memory problems

William Atkins
Wednesday, 22 October 2008 20:16

Science - Health

The Italian study was conducted on 242 people with Alzheimer’s disease (severe memory problems), 72 people with mild memory problems, and 144 people free of memory problems.

The researchers tested each subject with respect to their memory skills and used brain scans to detect Alzheimer’s disease.

The BBC News articles states, “The research confirms previous tests which show people with ‘cognitive reserve’ do better at managing the symptoms of dementia.”

The term "cognitive reserve" is used as the mechanism by which the brain is able to protect itself against dementia and other age-related memory problems.

A combination of mentally stimulating education and work, along with good genes (heredity), are ways that people succeed in their lives. Such activities may pave the way for the brain to actually protect itself (or at least minimize the damage) caused by dementia and other memory causing diseases.

Thus, the brain is able to compensate for damage caused by such diseases and continue to function in spite of the damage.

So, if you are bored in school or at work, maybe you don't need to change majors or professions. Maybe you just need to find new and more interesting ways to study or work.

Challenge yourself! Find better ways to do a task. Resolve a problem that has been nagging at you for months, maybe years.

Get additional job training. Take a class to better yourself at work. Do work-study at school and learn how the real-world operates.

There are millions of ways to make your major and/or job more interesting, and to help yourself reduce the risk of memory loss.

Start by reading the article "Challenge Yourself" by Thom Singer.

Just don't forget to do it!