Midlife hobbies outperform dementia risk

Summary: New research reveals that engaging in a diverse mix of social, physical, and intellectual activities during middle age is one of the most effective ways to build cognitive resilience. The study found that lifestyle interventions in one’s 40s and 50s can actually outweigh the negative impact of the APOE ε4 gene, the strongest common genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s.

The findings suggest that variety is the critical factor, with activities like playing an instrument, traveling, and socializing providing a “cognitive reserve” decades before typical disease onset.

https://neurosciencenews.com/lifestyle-activities-alzheimers-genetics-30569/