Can you keep dementia at bay?

​There's a fascinating new study that has just been published in The Lancet entitled "Prevention and management of dementia: a priority for public health."  
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The study identifies several interventions that can substantially decrease the chances  of developing dementia. I was surprised to learn that early childhood education and correcting hearing loss later in life are prevention factors. Some of the findings really resonated with me and align with the workshops that  I offer.

​Among the primary interventions identified to ward off dementia are increasing physical activity and social contact, and decreasing depression.

An idea that came to me early in my applied improvisation training was that these exercises were like brain-training games, but instead of an individual alone with a screen, they are instead experiencing physical activity, social engagement, ​and the benefits of laughter. And all three of these elements are key in combating depression. And these are only a few of the benefits of improv! Cool, huh?