Challenging Your Brain Helps Keep It Healthy, Experts Say

Lifelong learning and cognitive stimulation may build 'cognitive reserve' to ward off dementia

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Doctors often advise 'exercising your brain' to stay sharp, but challenging your brain through a variety of intellectually stimulating activities may be the better approach. Research shows that lifelong learning, from childhood through retirement, is linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and slower cognitive decline. Experts recommend finding meaningful hobbies and activities that 'stretch your brain' as well as maintaining physical health through exercise, controlling blood pressure, and getting vaccinated against shingles.

Why it matters

As the population ages, finding ways to protect brain health and stave off dementia is a growing public health priority. This research suggests that actively challenging one's brain through diverse cognitive activities may help build 'cognitive reserve' that can buffer the brain against the effects of aging and disease.

The details

The study by neuropsychologist Andrea Zammit of Rush University Medical Center followed nearly 2,000 older adults for 8 years and found that those with the highest levels of lifelong learning were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease 5 years later than those with the least amount of cognitive stimulation. Even when autopsies revealed Alzheimer's hallmarks in the brain, the more cognitively 'enriched' people had better memory and thinking skills before death. Other studies have linked brain health to playing a musical instrument and 'brain speed training' exercises.

  • The study enrolled participants ranging from age 53 to 100 and tracked them for 8 years.
  • Participants who had the highest levels of lifelong learning were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease 5 years later than those with the least amount of cognitive stimulation.

The players

Andrea Zammit

A neuropsychologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago who led the study on lifelong learning and dementia risk.

Ronald Petersen

An Alzheimer's specialist at the Mayo Clinic who cautioned that there is no 'magic recipe' to prevent dementia, but lifestyle changes can 'slow down the arc of deterioration.'

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What they’re saying

“They kind of like stretch your brain and your thinking. You're using your different cognitive systems.”

— Andrea Zammit, Neuropsychologist (The Associated Press)

“It's not just one activity. It's more about finding meaningful activities that you might be passionate about.”

— Andrea Zammit, Neuropsychologist (The Associated Press)

“There's no magic recipe to prevent either dementia or the normal cognitive decline of aging, but lifestyle changes offer a chance to 'slow down the arc of deterioration.'”

— Ronald Petersen, Alzheimer's Specialist (The Associated Press)

What’s next

Researchers are now examining whether long-term computerized brain exercises that aim to improve attention and reaction time can provide additional benefits for brain health.

The takeaway

Challenging your brain through a variety of intellectually stimulating hobbies and activities, combined with maintaining physical health, may help build 'cognitive reserve' that can protect the brain as it ages and potentially ward off dementia.