Do This One Incredibly Simple Thing To Lower Your Dementia Risk By As Much As 50%
Perhaps you’re already doing it?
by The Candidly Team
We won’t make you read through 11 paragraphs to get to the point. Even though reading is also listed as one of the activities that could help lower your dementia risk by up to almost 40%.
But the thing we’re talking about today is this: Writing. By hand. In a journal. Every day.
Let’s look at why.
A 2016 study of older adults showed that “being a journal writer significantly predicted a 53% reduction in all-cause dementia risk.” Another study from 2024 found that “intricate and precisely controlled handwriting movements have a beneficial impact on the brain’s connectivity patterns related to learning and remembering.” The same study “did not find evidence of such positive activation patterns when using a keyboard.”
The takeaway here is relatively simple, writing by hand and putting complex linguistic ideas to paper is good for your brain and bad for dementia.
Here’s why that reeeeally matters:
The number of people with dementia is expected to triple worldwide by 2050. That means roughly 150 million people will be living with it and millions more will be caring for those people. “Women are disproportionately affected by dementia, both directly and indirectly,” according the the World Health Organization. “Women experience higher disability-adjusted life years and mortality due to dementia, but also provide 70% of care hours for people living with dementia.”
The WHO lists the following factors as increasing dementia risk:
age (more common in those 65 or older)
high blood pressure
high blood sugar
being overweight or obese
smoking
drinking too much alcohol
being physically inactive
being socially isolated
depression
As we get older, it’s critical to look at the lifestyle factors we can control that reduce our risk. And writing by hand could just be one of those factors. Intellectually stimulating activities are a necessity to fighting dementia, and in an age of AI, they are increasingly at risk.
How do I get started?
Write often, without excuse: Yes, you can create a ritual to keep things consistent, sitting down to write at the same time every day. Or if no one time works for you daily, look for windows. Do it while your kids are coloring or while you’re waiting for your latte order, for the 10 minutes your pasta cooks, or the 20 minutes it takes for your face mask to actually do anything.
Stop thinking of it as time wasted: This is an act of health, just like working out or eating clean. Treat is as such.
Carry a notebook: God knows we carry a purse big enough to hold one. Plus, it feels nostalgic and joyful to have a journal on hand at all times. THIS* one is a personal favorite.
Use complex language: The 2016 study we mentioned above also showed that using complex language when writing could help reduce Alzheimer’s risk by 25%. So don’t be afraid to go big and deep with language and ideas.
What other activities can help fight dementia?
Read and write. Both are among the activities that could help reduce dementia risk by up to about 40%
Exercise and be active every day.
Stay social. Dementia risk increases with isolation.
Be serious about sleep.
Manage your blood pressure.
Manage your blood sugar.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet with lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and unsaturated fats.
Limit alcohol.
Limit sugar.
Pay attention to and treat hearing loss.
Don’t smoke.
Do your best to avoid head injuries.
Learn a language.
Play board games and do puzzles that require complex thinking.
Try new hobbies.
Learn new skills.
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used in place of professional advice, medical treatment, or professional care in any way. This article is not intended to be and should not be a substitute for professional care, advice or treatment. Please consult with your physician or healthcare provider before changing any health regimen. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease of any kind. Read our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
