Doing housework, visiting family and friends and exercising may help lower the risk of getting dementia, according to research. A study found that carrying out household chores is linked with a 21% reduced risk of diseases like Alzheimer's.
Meanwhile those who exercised frequently, and visited family and friends daily, had a 35% and 15% lower risk respectively. Researchers found this was still the case even in people at genetic risk for dementia - suggesting the activities may be effective preventative measures.
The study involved 501,376 people without dementia, with an average age of 56, from a UK database. They filled out questionnaires at the beginning of the study, including one on physical activities, and were asked how often they participated in activities such as climbing a flight of stairs, walking and participating in strenuous sports.
