BEIJING (Dispatches) -- A new study has found that household chores, exercise, and social visits may help lower the risk of dementia.
Study author Huan Song, MD, PhD, of Sichuan University in Chengdu, China said the study found that exercise, household chores, and social visits were linked to a reduced risk of various types of dementia.
The study involved 501,376 people from a UK database without dementia with an average age of 56.
Participants filled out questionnaires at the beginning of the study, including one on physical activities. They were asked how often they participated in activities such as climbing a flight of stairs, walking, and participating in strenuous sports. They were also asked about household chores, job-related activities, and what kind of transportation they used, including walking or biking to work.
Participants completed another questionnaire on mental activities. They were asked about their education level, whether they attend adult education classes, how often they visit with friends and family, visit pubs or social clubs or religious groups, and how often they use electronic devices such as playing computer games, watching TV, and talking on the phone.
Study participants were followed an average of 11 years. At the end of the study, 5,185 people had developed dementia.
The researchers found that all participants benefited from the protective effect of physical and mental activities, whether or not they had a family history of dementia.