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Mental activity and creative pursuits may help stave off dementia and keep the mind clear.

Exercise the bod: We know that’s good for our physical health. In recent years, experiments in ani¬mals have found that exercise may also improve mental abilities, and some human studies have come to the same conclusion.

But the surest way to exercise the brain, is to challenge it to think. Consid¬erable research has explored the effects of creative and challenging activities on mental health, especially as we age.

Much of this research has focused on dementia, which usually involves loss of memory and “executive function” — the ability to plan, initiate, and manage. It has many causes, including alcoholism and low thyroid levels. But the main ones are strokes and, above all, Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers have long noted that high educational levels and mentally challenging occupations are associated with reduced risk for Alzheimer’s, although sorting out cause and effect is difficult. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that “cognitive activities” — such as board games, crossword puzzles, or playing a musical instrument — seemed to be more protective against dementia than physical activities like walking and swimming. Of the physical activities studied, only social (ballroom) dancing rivaled the more mindful pursuits.