Writing in The Oldie, Dalrymple considers whether crosswords, artistic pursuits, and other forms of mental activity can stave off dementia. He examines a French study of over three thousand elderly people suggesting that those who engaged in moderate or high levels of intellectual activity had half the rate of dementia, but cautions against confusing correlation with causation.
I should not like anyone to take from what I have written the idea that mental activity is pointless or worthless. Far from it: but it should be undertaken for its own sake, for the satisfaction and pleasure that it brings, and not as a kind of preventive medicine.
It’s very frustrating when authors of articles like that neither link the actual study, or at least cite the the study in a way by which readers can go and search for it!!
I need actual studies like that (vs amusing articles based on them, yet providing no reference info) in order to convince my retired husband that he is throwing away the best years of his life by refusing to engage with mentally stimulating activities!!
It’s also frustrating when a comment section has no way to edit a comment once it’s been sent…
First sentence of previous comment should read:
It’s very frustrating when authors of articles like that neither link the actual study, nor at least cite the study in a way by which readers can go and search for it!!
Apologies for my irascibility!