The more pathways, the slower brain damage can take hold. If one pathway is closed, information can choose an alternate path.

I have seen that exposing oneself to new experiences or solving novel problems have a similar effect of slowing dementia.

does inject some levity into the conversation.The REALLY odd thing is that, when stoned out of one's mind - I know this from what "friends" have told me (cough, cough... exhaling cloud of smoke) - you'll find yourself going to places, say in your house, or being somewhere, with no idea why you're there... almost symptomatic of dementia! So, you would think weed would have the OPPOSITE effect... though, it must do something to the neural networks in the brain and, thus, affect how parts of it communicate with each other. Maybe this is what Ozzy Osborne - ahead of his time? - meant by "Brain Salad Surgery".

dementia, then Alzheimer’s. After she died my aunt, her daughter, came down with it. It took my aunt 14-15!years to die. “The Long Goodbye” indeed! My mother, on the other hand didn’t ever come down with dementia, and she just turned 90 when she died. Hopefully I’ll take after Mom. At 60 I feel like I’m turning into my mother. LOL!! My mother, unlike me, had never used cannabis in any form. 🤔🤪