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