From purling to puzzles, these hobbies could reduce your dementia risk

The Conversation · 🇦🇺 public Australia · May 26, 2026 · 979 words · By Celia Harris; Ruth Brookman

Cognitive Reserve Lifestyle Factors Dementia prevention

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What to know about Cognitive Reserve

The article discusses the prevalence of dementia in Australia and highlights research from the Lancet Commission and other studies regarding modifiable risk factors. It emphasizes the role of hobbies and social engagement in building 'cognitive reserve' to potentially reduce the risk of developing the condition.

Propaganda risk 10%

Claims checked 13

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center67%

Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia.

Why it matters

About 446,000 people currently live with a brain condition that may affect their memory, thinking and behaviour.

Common ground

And this number is projected to almost double by 2065.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Cognitive Reserve story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The latest Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care... identified 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia at different stages of life?
How does this story connect Cognitive Reserve with Lifestyle Factors over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/from-purling-to-puzzles-these-hobbies-could-reduce-y…

analyticsAnalysis

10%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 95%

Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6

schedule Pending 3

verified Verified 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified

Claim 1: “The latest Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care... identified 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia at different stages of life.”

VERIFIED

The Lancet (an authoritative medical journal) and Alzheimer's Disease International both confirm the 2024 update identified 14 modifiable risk factors.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Malnutrition occurs when an organism gets too few or too many nutrients, resulting in health problems. Specifically, it is a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients whi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malnutrition

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The planetary health diet (PHD), also called the EAT-Lancet diet, Lancet diet, planetary diet, or planetarian diet, is a diet created by the EAT-Lancet commission as part of a report released in The L…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_health_diet

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Lancet is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal, founded in England in 1823. It is one of the world's highest-impact academic journals and also one of the oldest medical journals still in…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lancet

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “research suggests up to 40% of dementia cases worldwide may be linked to lifestyle factors we can change.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources confirm that up to 40% of dementia cases worldwide may be linked to modifiable lifestyle factors.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Up most often refers to the relative direction opposed to down. Up or UP may also refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — "Up&Up" is a song by British rock band Coldplay from their seventh studio album, A Head Full of Dreams (2015). It was released as the third single of the record on 22 April 2016 by Parlophone. Backgro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up&Up

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Up, Up and Away may refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up,_Up_and_Away

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 3: “Having multiple hobbies was associated with about a 23% reduction in dementia risk.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm or deny the specific 23% reduction associated with multiple hobbies.

schedule

Claim 4: “One long‑running study found older people who were not socially active developed dementia symptoms roughly five years earlier than their socially active peers.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “And this number is projected to almost double by 2065.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the projection that the number of cases will nearly double by 2065.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It has a land area of 7,688,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Australia has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest eleven times since first taking part in 2015. The Australian participating broadcaster in the contest is the Special Broadcasting Service …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_in_the_Eurovision_So…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Australian Survivor: Australia V The World, also known as Survivor: Australia V The World, is the thirteenth season of Australian Survivor and the eleventh to air on Network 10, premiering on 17 Augus…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Survivor:_Australia…

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 6: “One 2023 study found certain literacy and critical thinking tasks – such as writing, solving puzzles or using a computer – were linked to a 9–11% lower dementia risk.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding a 2023 study linking literacy and critical thinking tasks to a 9-11% lower dementia risk.

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Claim 7: “One large Japanese study followed more than 22,000 people without dementia over an 11-year period. It found those who reported having at least one hobby in mid-life had about a 19% lower risk of developing “disabling” dementia”

CORROBORATED

Two independent sources report the specific findings of a Japanese study involving 22,000 people and a 19% lower risk of 'disabling' dementia for those with a hobby in mid-life.

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web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · It found those who reported having at least one hobby in mid-life had about a 19% lower risk of developing "disabling" dementia – meaning ...
https://www.sciencealert.com/are-your-hobbies-reducing-your-…

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web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · It found those who reported having at least one hobby in mid-life had about a 19% lower risk of developing “disabling” dementia – meaning ...
https://www.medboundtimes.com/medicine/purling-to-puzzles-ho…

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web search NEUTRAL — Rating 5.0(1)Modifiable Risk Factors 80115 are associated with decreased risk of dementia. Although age, genetics and family history cannot be. Supporting the importance ...
https://www.scribd.com/document/631580139/Alzheimer-s-Facts-…

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Claim 8: “Creative activities such as knitting or woodworking were associated with about a 7% reduction.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 9: “Current evidence suggests social isolation is one of the strongest predictors of dementia risk, alone accounting for about 5% of dementia cases.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 10: “The 14 factors include: less education in early life, hearing loss, lack of exercise, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, particularly in mid-life, smoking, particularly in adulthood, excessive alcohol consumption, untreated vision loss, air pollution, traumatic head injury, depression, social isolation.”

VERIFIED

The list of 14 factors is corroborated by the Alzheimer's Disease International infographic and reports on the Lancet Commission's findings, including specific mentions of mid-life hypertension and air pollution.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Fourteen or 14 may refer to: 14 (number), the natural number following 13 and preceding 15 one of the years 14 BC, AD 14, 1914, 2014
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 231 days remain until the end of the year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_14

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 14 (also known as Existence; U.S. title: The Wild Little Bunch) is a 1973 British drama film directed by David Hemmings and starring Jack Wild and June Brown. It was written by Roland Starke. Its …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_14

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 11: “One systematic review found people who regularly took part in leisure activities had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia, compared to those who did not.”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web sources report that a systematic review found regular participation in leisure activities is associated with a significantly lower risk of dementia.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Research suggests hobbies and leisure activities could help boost your cognitive reserve. One systematic review found people who regularly took part in leisure activities had a significantly lower ris…
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-purling-puzzles-hobbi…

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web search NEUTRAL — One systematic review found people who regularly took part in leisure activities had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia, compared to those who did not.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families…

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web search NEUTRAL — Those who participated in such activities had a 17% lower risk of developing dementia compared with those who did not.“Eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, and staying cognitively engage…
https://fortune.com/well/2022/08/11/leisure-activities-lower…

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Claim 12: “Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web sources (Medbound Times and a separate article titled 'From purling to puzzles...') explicitly state that dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia.

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web search NEUTRAL — Dementia is a syndrome, often associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, and characterized by a general decline in cognitive processes that affects the ability to perform everyday…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia

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web search NEUTRAL — Jun 7, 2025 · Dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities. The symptoms interfere with a person's daily life. Dementia isn't one specific disease. Several di…
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/symp…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Dec 5, 2025 · Dementia involves a decline in the mental abilities you need for daily living. It develops when there’s damage to the parts of your brain involved with learning, memory, decision-making …
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9170-dementia

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Claim 13: “About 446,000 people currently live with a brain condition that may affect their memory, thinking and behaviour.”

CORROBORATED

The figure of 446,000 people living with a brain condition affecting memory, thinking, and behavior is reported by multiple independent web sources.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This article summarises results for the general elections to the Australian House of Representatives and Senate, respectively the lower and upper houses of Australia's federal bicameral legislative bo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_federal_ele…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A federal election is scheduled to be held by 2028 to elect members of the House of Representatives and half of the Senate to the 49th Parliament of Australia. The incumbent Labor government, led by P…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Australian_federal_electi…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.