ABC's Dr. Timothy Johnson Reports

There's some encouraging news for those dealing with dementia.  New findings say exercises to stimulate mental processes can actually help.

Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability.  Alzheimer's is the best known form.

A new study lends weight to the belief that activities to stimulate the mind help to slow mental decline in dementia patients.

Cognitive stimulation includes conversation, word games, puzzles, music, and such activities as baking and gardening.

Researchers reviewed data on 718 participants and found that cognitive stimulation benefits memory and thinking test scores of people with dementia.

There was also evidence that participants felt improved quality of life.  The results applied to those with mild to moderate dementia, not those with severe cases.

Last year,  the World Alzheimer's Report said that cognitive stimulation should be offered routinely to those  with early-stage dementia.