Experts Reveal 4 Simple Hobbies That May Cut Dementia Risk and Boost Your Memory
Experts share how fun hobbies like knitting and walking can help protect your memory
Activities like gardening, reading, knitting and more are easy ways to relax or express your creativity. But the benefits may go beyond simple enjoyment. In fact, some of your favorite hobbies could prevent dementia, offering an unexpected boost to brain health over time.
Whether it’s the challenge of learning something new, the focus that comes with a handicraft or the connection you feel when sharing activities with others, these everyday pastimes may help improve cognition function and ward off memory blips. Keep reading to learn how your favorite hobbies can play a key role in protecting your mind.
The connection between hobbies and brain health
From gardening to reading to walking, the hobbies we love engage the brain in ways that promote what’s known as neuroplasticity, explains Austin Perlmutter, MD, internal medicine physician and managing director at Big Bold Health.
Woman's World Answers
He says this is the brain’s ability to adapt, reorganize and form new connections—which is especially important for warding off cognitive impairment. Hobbies serve as forms of cognitive enrichment that stimulate attention, memory, coordination and executive function in the brain to improve cognitive abilities.
And when older adults invest time and energy into hobbies they love, they create long-term memories that will persist even as age-related cognitive decline sets in, notes Logan DuBose, MD, co-founder of caregiving platform Olera.
4 fun hobbies that help prevent dementia
Ready to play your way to better brain health? Give these memory-boosting hobbies a try.
Walking boosts blood flow to the brain
Regular physical activity and social connection are essential in keeping your brain healthy as you age. Hobbies such as walking, hiking or playing pickleball with friends are excellent ways to keep your body moving, explains Seetha Bhagavatula, MD, a board-certified geriatrician and internal medicine physician at Remo Health. She recommends challenging yourself to an activity that you not only enjoy, but also gets your body moving.
Staying active improves nourishing blood flow to the brain. Plus, it helps lower high blood pressure (a.k.a. hypertension), which can increase your risk of developing dementia
and Alzheimer’s disease. And when you make it a social activity by inviting a friend to join, you boost the benefits. Engaging in lively chats with others is like a mini workout for your brain, which helps keep your memory sharp.
Gardening stimulates your mind
Whether you’re planting shrubs or brightening up your yard with flowers, gardening combines movement, sensory engagement and a sense of purpose. Plus, time in nature offers its own brain-boosting benefits. “Tactile and visual feedback from soil, leaves and flowers activate multiple sensory networks, while exposure to sunlight supports circadian regulation and vitamin D synthesis, both of which are linked to cognitive health,” says Dr. Perlmutter.
To make the hobby even more beneficial for your brain, consider planting a few herbs and spices and then using them in your favorite recipes. “Herbs and spices are among the most concentrated sources of brain-boosting nutrients called polyphenols, and polyphenol consumption has been linked to lower risk for dementia, better mood and even longer lifespan.”
Knitting reinforces neural pathways
Although knitting and crocheting differ in technique, both require complex motor planning and bilateral coordination, which Dr. Perlmutter says can help activate regions like the prefrontal and motor cortex.
He adds that occasionally switching to new or slightly more complex patterns helps keep the mind sharp, since challenges make the brain more adaptive and resilient. Not yet ready to learn a new knitting stitch? Repeating patterns can still be beneficial as it helps to promote relaxation and calmness, adds Dr. DuBose.
Reading improves key language skills
Reading—in any format—gives your brain a workout by engaging memory, language, focus and processing skills. It supports overall brain health and possibly lowers dementia risk factors, says Dr. Bhagavatula.
If you’re looking to get the most out of your reading session, Dr. DuBose recommends reaching for a physical hardback or paperback book. These offer maximal brain stimulation because they require both vision and cognitive engagement. For those of us with vision impairment, he says that e-books (in which you can easily change font size or lighting) are a great substitute.
The bottom line: enjoyment and consistency are key
When it comes to activities that boost your brain power, consistency is more important than complexity. “It’s not about hard tasks—it’s about making time for hobbies you enjoy, building lasting memories, strengthening your brain and adding purpose to your life,” says Dr. DuBose.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
