Many people, as they age, start to believe they are capable of less, and this changes many decisions they make in their lives. Because they believe they can do less, they actually do less, which results in the cognitive decline they fear. Instead of retiring to a life of minimal activity, research tells us that we would be helped by filling our retirement years with new challenges and learning opportunities. Research has shown that elderly people who pursue more leisure activities have a 38 percent lower risk of developing dementia.11
