Scientists suggest that many hobbies can help stimulate our minds and stave off Alzheimer’s and dementia as we get older. There’s probably something in your life you feel passionate about. Maybe it’s bicycling, maybe it’s painting, maybe it’s creating scrapbooks or doing jigsaw puzzles. That’s the basis of your hobby— something that engages the creative centers of your brain. Hobbies help make neural connections between different parts of your brain. For instance, learning to play a musical instrument early in life seems to help children with the ability to do mathematics. Learning new words to beat your friends at Scrabble can build brain cells in the language centers of your brain. So think of something you really enjoy doing and make that your hobby.