Neurodegenerative diseases, among them Alzheimer’s, are spreading rapidly in aging populations. Today, they are one of the leading causes of mortality and diminished quality of life in wealthy countries where life expectancy is highest. As of now, there is no treatment to prevent or cure these diseases.
Maintaining regular correspondence, both reading and writing, stimulates neural plasticity and plays an effective role in preventing Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. It’s one of the most powerful ways to slow cognitive decline.
A 7-year cohort study conducted on nearly two thousand people with an average age of 88 showed that engaging in intellectually stimulating activities, such as reading, writing, or games, can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions by up to 5 years.
A 10-year study involving over 10,000 participants with an average age of 73 aimed to identify the most effective activities for preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Among the various activities evaluated — writing, games, and artistic pursuits — writing proved to have the greatest impact in reducing the risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders.
The benefits of writing are even greater when the habit begins earlier in life. An American study showed that maintaining a regular writing practice throughout life can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders by more than 50%.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5926989/Loneliness is a growing reality for many, especially among older adults. It’s not just emotionally difficult, it’s also a major accelerator of cognitive decline.
Simply receiving letters can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness. The joy of receiving mail, being invited into someone else’s life, and sharing common interests helps break the vicious cycle of loneliness and isolation.
An American study of nursing home residents showed that receiving regular mail, once a week, has a powerful effect in reducing feelings of loneliness among residents.
A pen pal helps you tell your story, write a testimony, shape your experiences into a narrative, reclaim them, and pass them on. Writing allows you to preserve and share your life story in a lasting way.
Your children or grandchildren have probably seen dozens of documentaries about Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon, but what did you experience and feel watching these events live? What did that moment mean to you?
Speak up, write it down, and pass it on !
It is also the mission of a pen pal to help and support each of you in sharing your stories. Take advantage of these exchanges to strengthen family bonds and preserve the family histories you hold.
Spoken words fly away, written words remain.
Writing isn’t just a way to communicate, it helps us think. Writing stimulates areas of the brain associated with memory, creativity, and mental clarity. By organizing thoughts into words, we gain insight, inspiration, and a greater sense of well-being.
During the writing process, the brain simultaneously engages the prefrontal cortex, involved in planning and narrative coherence, and regions associated with the default mode network, linked to introspective and spontaneous thinking. This dual engagement explains why writing helps both to organize thoughts, unleash creativity, and gain greater clarity.