We used to do The NY Times and Boston Globe Sunday crosswords together. He also was an avid Bridge player, kept a daily journal for decades, and was an educator. He suffered from dementia for many years before he died at age 86.

I honestly don't believe any of those behaviors prevent dementia. However, my father did realize things were changing with his cognitive skills (in those skills cited and others) early on during his dementia voyage as evidenced through his journal writings. He did not actually receive a diagnosis for several years.

She is 95 and still going strong. She uses email and Facebok every day. We talk on the phone multiple times a week and although she sometimes struggles to remember a name or some other word, it usually comes to her a few minutes later. She is doing pretty well except for some aches and pains.

I'm 64, been a cruciverbalist since I was 8, can't do without my daily fix !