Arts and Crafts May Reduce Risk of Memory Problems in Seniors

iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Arts and crafts are not just for kids at summer camp anymore.  A new study finds that middle-age and older adults who do arts and crafts activities may reduce their risk of the memory problems that can lead to dementia.

In a study published in the journal Neurology, researchers followed 256 people whose average age was 87 at the beginning of the study. Over four years, 121 participants developed mild cognitive impairment.

The individuals who engaged in artistic activities such as painting or drawing, in both middle age and when they were 85 and older, were 73 percent less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment than those who did not do so.

The study also found that people who engaged in craft activities such as woodworking or pottery were 45 percent less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment than their counterparts who did not participate in those types of activities.

Researchers also discovered that the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment was also 55 percent lower among those who socialized in middle age and when they were older, compared with those who did not do so.

The research also found that people who used a computer when they were 85 and older were 53 percent less likely to be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment than those who did not use a computer.

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