Q. What about the concept of mental exercise?

A. Thirty minutes a day of challenging mental exercise is a proven strategy for retarding the onset of aging symptoms. While not muscles, neurons (brain cells) respond to challenges much as do muscle cells. Use it or lose it, as the saying goes.

Research suggests that for each year of education beyond basic college one’s risk of Alzheimer’s decreases by twenty percent. The theory is that, even if whatever causes Alzheimer’s attacks one’s brain, its neuron trees will be so leafed out (so to speak) that onset of incapacitating symptoms can be delayed if not prevented altogether. It’s certainly worth a shot!