This Is No Yarn - Knitting May Help Keep Your Mind Sharp

by Janice Lloyd for AARP:Hobbies such as knitting and crocheting are good ways to keep your hands active, but they may also help you stitch together healthy brain function.The benefits range from reducing stress to thinking creatively to improving memory, all of which may help prevent or slow the onset of age-related dementia, according to a growing body of research.The studies found knitters and people engaging in other mentally challenging crafts have:

• Healthier brains. A 2011 Mayo Clinic study of 1,321 older adults reported that people who did cognitive activities — such as knitting, reading books, using computers and playing games — had a 30 to 50 percent lower chance of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) than TV watchers and magazine readers. MCI is a condition characterized by impaired thinking and puts people at a higher risk of getting dementia. The study participants were interviewed about their activities and given a series of neurological tests.
• More robust memories. A small University of Texas at Dallas study of 221 older adults reported that those who engaged in learning “high challenge” activities (quilting or digital photography) had enhanced memory function and could also focus better than those in “low challenge” activities (socializing or traveling). People in the study, published in 2013, were required to work on their activity for 15 hours a week for three months and then submit to cognitive testing.
• Improved outlooks. In a 2013 international survey of 3,545 knitters, those who knitted more often (at least three times a week) had a better sense of well-being and accomplishment, and reported higher cognitive function than those who knitted less frequently. “The complex two-handed, coordinated patterns of movement involved in knitting makes the brain work hard,’’ said Betsan Corkhill, a coauthor of the research and founder of the Stitchlinks.com website, in an email. Also, many knitters and craft makers are less likely to be isolated because they join groups in which they can learn from each other. Social isolation, stress and depression are linked to dementia.

Even for the nonjoiners, the knitting process eliminates stress because it brings about a calming and soothing form of meditation and relaxation.

Knitting and crocheting are hot, according to the Craft Yarn Council, which represents leading yarn companies, accessory manufacturers, and magazine and book publishers. About 38 million Americans are involved. Even Albert Einstein got in on the act. The genius enjoyed knitting when he took his brain breaks.

“Having a tool at hand to manage stress on a daily basis is important for facilitating the growth of new neural pathways and a healthy brain,’’ Corkhill said. 

Source: http://bit.ly/2l3O54r