| Use it or lose it! Mental exercises for | | | | working then continuing education not |
| Alzheimer's are not only a powerful | | | | only helps keep Alzheimer's at bay, it's |
| preventative measure, they can tone and | | | | a good way to keep at the top in your |
| build the brain and memory of an | | | | job or profession. |
| Alzheimer's sufferer the way physical | | | | - Learning new computer programs can |
| exercise tones and builds the body. | | | | be good mental exercise, and there lots |
| Mental exercises can slow down, halt, or | | | | to choose from. Go to your favorite |
| even help to reverse the early signs of | | | | computer store and check out the titles. |
| Alzheimer's disease (AD). | | | | You could learn a photo editing program |
| Unfortunately, normal day to day living | | | | and turn your snapshots into |
| usually doesn't give the neuron | | | | masterpieces, or get a genealogy program |
| sharpening exercise you need. | | | | and research your family tree for |
| The good news is that you're never too | | | | example. |
| old to start boosting your brainpower, | | | | - Learn a challenging computer game. |
| and it can be fun. | | | | Once again there are lots to try out. |
| The fact that mental exercises can | | | | You can become an entrepreneur running |
| bolster your brain has even been | | | | your own virtual reality railway, |
| discovered by the press. The Daily Mail | | | | airline, zoo or much more. You can learn |
| in England reports that volunteers aged | | | | to fly with a flight simulator and fly |
| 65 and over who did just ten hours of | | | | almost anywhere in the world right in |
| training their memory, problem solving | | | | your own lounge room. You can battle |
| and reaction times had mental abilities | | | | anything from the ancient Romans to |
| similar to people seven to fourteen | | | | intergalactic warriors. There are lots |
| years younger who hadn't done such | | | | of online games too, where you can |
| exercises. | | | | compete against other players anywhere |
| Studies show that staying mentally | | | | in the world any time of the night or |
| active can slash the chance of getting | | | | day. |
| Alzheimer's by fifty percent. Even the | | | | - Build your own website. Share your |
| schoolwork that you did when you were | | | | hobbies, interests or expertise with the |
| young has an effect. A study carried out | | | | rest of the world. You can even make |
| in China showed that those with no | | | | money with this one. Click on over to my |
| schooling were five times more likely to | | | | website and I'll tell you the best place |
| get Alzheimer's disease than those who | | | | to get started, even for complete |
| graduated from high school. A Swedish | | | | website building newbies. |
| study showed that those with schooling | | | | - Do a course. Have you ever wanted to |
| below grade eight were two and a half | | | | learn something but just haven't done it |
| times more likely to get AD. | | | | yet? It could be photography, cooking or |
| So just what sort of mental exercises | | | | advanced calculus. Academic courses will |
| tunes up the brain and gets it firing on | | | | really get your brain working. You'll |
| all cylinders? | | | | feel as though you're cleaning all the |
| Luckily you don't have to do the mental | | | | rust off your brain, bit by bit getting |
| equivalent of sit-ups and push-ups. | | | | it operating more freely until finally |
| Mental exercises for Alzheimer's can be | | | | it's running smoothly again. |
| fun and enjoyable. You can even play | | | | - Here's something to do less of. |
| games to fire up the neurons. Here are | | | | Don't watch too much television unless |
| some ideas to get you started. | | | | it's something mentally stimulating. |
| - Playing cards is good mental | | | | Passively watching sitcoms and soapies |
| exercise, and bridge is often touted as | | | | dulls the brain you're trying to |
| an exceptionally good card game to get | | | | sharpen. |
| you thinking. | | | | Mental exercises can make a big |
| - Sudoku is a Japanese number game | | | | difference to your life, whether you're |
| that takes concentration. The local | | | | trying to prevent Alzheimer's or already |
| newspaper will often have a game of | | | | have it. You can gain years of life that |
| Sudoku in it near the crossword puzzle, | | | | could otherwise be lost. Get started |
| and books of games are easy to find in | | | | now, and keep challenging your brain. |
| shops. | | | | It's worth the effort. And remember that |
| - Scrabble, crossword puzzles and | | | | there are a lot more things you can do |
| jigsaws are all good for the grey | | | | to fight this terrible disease. |
| matter. | | | | Warren Newson is editor of . Click to |
| - The solitaire games of FreeCell and | | | | Alzheimer's treatment to learn more |
| Spider are good too, and you can play | | | | about how to prevent, slow, halt, or |
| them on your computer. | | | | maybe even reverse Alzheimer's disease |
| - Keep learning! If you're still | | | | to gain years of quality enjoyable life. |