Rush University Medical Center’s, Rush Memory and Aging Project, reports in the online edition of Neurology, that often older adults who read newspapers, play chess, or engage in other mental stimulating activity reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. They also found visiting a library or attending a play reduces risk of mild cognitive impairment

The long-term study consists of more than 700 Chicago residents, with the average age of 80-years-old, who underwent yearly cognitive testing for up to 5 years. Of the study group 90 individuals developed Alzheimer’s disease. Research also used brain autopsy reports of 102 participants who had died.

Because of aging baby-boomers, Alzheimer’s disease poses an enormous public health problem.