To reply to a digest, insert the relevant message header; don't reply to the digest header ------------------------------------------------------------- This isn't the first time I've seen some sort of study linking "leisure" activities with mental decline. I just wish I could remember the source. But what I *do* recall is that right-brain activity(musical instruments, etc) were supposed to be favored over left-brain activities. I could have my right and left brain associations mixed up; I don't remember much of this stuff overall. Creative pursuits are supposed to be better than "logical" recreations. DF >------------------------------------------------------------- > >"Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly" > >Background Participation in leisure activities has been associated with a >lower risk of dementia. It is unclear whether increased participation in >leisure activities lowers the risk of dementia or participation in leisure >activities declines during the preclinical phase of dementia. > >Among leisure activities, reading, playing board games, playing musical >instruments, and dancing were associated with a reduced risk of dementia. > > >From the New England Journal of Medicine > >http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/348/25/2508 >-------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- The FAQ for Evolutionary Fitness is at http://www.evfit.com/faq.htm To unsubscribe from the list send an e-mail to [log in to unmask] with the words SIGNOFF EVOLUTIONARY-FITNESS in the _body_ of the e-mail.