The Independant (June 9, 2009) -- A recipe for staying sharp in old age has been uncovered by scientists who studied more than 2,000 men and women through their seventies and eighties.The four key factors involved in preventing mental decline were found to be exercise, education, social activity and not smoking.
Researchers carried out a series of memory and mental tests on 2,500 men and women aged 70 to 79 over a period of eight years.
Just over half the participants showed a normal rate of age-related decline while 16% suffered a major reduction in their mental faculties.
However, 30% of the study volunteers remained unchanged and in some cases even showed an improvement in performance over the years.
The researchers then examined what lifestyle factors stood out among those people who were able to remain quick-witted in old age.
By John von Radowitz, Press Association
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