Preventing Alzheimer's: A lifelong commitment?

Recent research suggests that keeping mentally and physically active when young and middle-aged can help prevent the brain degeneration of Alzheimer's disease. Education and learning may increase the number and strength of neuronal connections in the brain, thus improving on an individual's cognitive reserve. Later in life, when Alzheimer's pathology begins to eat away at the brain's neurons, those with larger reserves would be better able to cope. Researchers warn that people need to act before memory problems develop.