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These activities could help postpone Alzheimer’s by 5 years, study suggests

The survey, one of the largest of its kind, promotes the idea that the texture of daily life can leave a measurable imprint on the aging brain.

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Chess is among the activities during later life that can help delay Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment, a new study found. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)
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The hours you spend tracing countries on a globe or puzzling over a chessboard may add up to more than idle time. According to a new study, such mentally stimulating pursuits are linked to years-long delays in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment.

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Ariana Eunjung Cha is a national reporter. She has previously served as The Post's bureau chief in Shanghai and San Francisco, and as a correspondent in Baghdad.@arianaeunjung
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