In order to stay clear of dementia, doctors always suggest indulging in brain storming activities. Now a new research reveals that mental exercises may delay the onset of the disease, but it gains speed once it hits a person.

A study that was spearheaded by Dr. Robert Wilson at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago discovered that individuals who were mentally active were less prone to develop dementia. However, once the disease arrives, they were at a higher risk of cognitive decline.

The study entailed 1,157 men and women who were 65 or more in age. It appeared online in Neurology on September 1.

He says that indulging in brain exercises does not halt the basic neurobiology of dementia, but it is helpful in postponing the emergence of other symptoms, for some time. He said that the intellectually stimulated group suffered from a 52% higher cognitive mutilation.

Wilson says, “The benefit of delaying initial signs of cognitive decline by keeping mentally active may come at the cost of more rapid dementia progression later on”.

It is known that slow cognitive decline is the characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, which gives a difficult time to patients, their care providers and community since the health expenditure of chronic care continues to rise.