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Want to Prevent Alzheimer's? Exercise Your Brain.

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New research shows that formal education, work that stimulates the brain and social interaction may help protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The research was presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto this week.

The first showed that people who work closely with other people may have a healthier brain longer and be able to delay the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Another showed that working out the brain with challenging tasks may counteract the negative effects of a bad diet.

This research adds to a growing body of data that suggest mentally stimulating lifestyles, including formal education, social interaction and intellectually challenging work may help keep the brain healthier as it ages.

In 2016 Alzheimer’s affected more than 37,000 West Virginians and cost Medicaid more than 386 million dollars.

Appalachia Helth News

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation.