It is nice to see that Alzheimer’s is getting more and more media attention. Here’s one way that seniors are keeping their Mental Momentum going.
Each week, she tests wits with a group of people like her who’ve received a diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer’s. They come to the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation to work puzzles, play word games and compare memories of current events. The hope is that this mental activity will help short-circuit the disease and keep brain wiring intact as long as possible.
Blais and her classmates, whose ages range from the mid-50s to the 90s, listen to clues and questions and then vie to be the first with the right answer. And those answers come in rapid fire. Surrounded by others with fading memories, no one feels self-conscious.
Will it really work?
Can these activities really fend off dementia and reduce the frequency of Senior Moments? The evidence is not entirely conclusive, but is strongly suggestive that it works. One thing is certain: sitting on the couch and watching bland TV programs won’t help!
Good luck,
Allen Dobkin
