Studies show that learning a new, complex skill can help prevent dementia. Re- searchers at the University of Texas at Dallas recently conducted a study testing the cognitive change for people who studied a challenging new skill, like learning how to use Photoshop, and compared how their brains fared against people who did enjoyable but non challenging activities like going to the movies. Those who spent significant time (about fifteen hours per week) learning about digital photography and image-editing software did much better on tests of memory. Those gains were kept even a year after the study ended. Researchers theorize that learning a complex task strengthens the connections between neurons in the brain—unlike games, such as crossword puzzles, which only have a limited effect on short-term memory.