Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- long-standing / ˈlɑːŋˈstæn.dɪŋ / (adj) – continuing for a long period of time
Example:Preparing a special meal on New Year’s Eve has been a long-standing tradition of my family.
- stimulating / ˈstɪmjəˌleɪtɪŋ / (adj) – causing excitement or presenting a challenge to someone
Example:She loves answering stimulating riddles; no wonder she chose to become a detective.
- gradual / ˈɡrædʒ.u.əl / (adj) – happening slowly
Example:He experienced gradual weight loss when he started a healthier diet.
- take on / teɪk ɑːn / (phrasal) – to begin doing something
Example:She could not take on very tiring tasks because of her sickness.
- avert / əˈvɝːt / (v) – to prevent something from happening
Example:Many people hope to avert sickness in their lives, so they eat healthy food and exercise often.
Article
Read the text below.
Researchers have found that doing Sudoku and crossword puzzles does not prevent dementia.
There had been a long-standing belief that doing mental activities will protect people from mental dementia. This belief was supported by a study published in 2003. The study related a lower risk in dementia to doing mentally stimulating activities like reading and playing board games. This correlation led to the belief that puzzles such as Sudoku and crosswords can prevent dementia. However, a recent study found that this is not the case.
Recently published in the British Medical Journal, the study was headed by Dr. Roger Staff at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the University of Aberdeen. The research examined 498 people born in 1936 who participated in a group intelligence test at 11 years old. For the current study, the participants were already 64 years old, and their mental abilities were assessed up to five times over a 15-year period.
Results showed that despite doing mental activities, the study’s participants still showed signs of gradual mental decline as they grew older.
Although doing mental activities does not stop dementia, it does improve one’s mental abilities. According to the researchers, taking on challenging tasks like puzzles creates additional links among brain cells. These additional links support the brain and keep it functioning well even as some connections decline due to old age.
Thus, while mental decline cannot be completely averted, it would take more time for people who regularly do mental exercises to experience a decline in their brain functions, such as memory and IQ.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
• Do you think more research on dementia should be conducted? Explain.
• What activities do you think can cause one’s mental abilities to decline? Discuss.
Discussion B
• What mental activities do you consider challenging (e.g. puzzles, playing instruments)? Explain.
• What challenging mental activities would you like to try? Why?
