One of the often-cited recommendations concerning fending off Alzheimer's disease is the need to stay engaged with people. In fact, Newsmax.com's Health Alert reported in early January 2008 that a University of Michigan study found that 10 minutes of chatting, either face to face or by phone, does as much to improve memory and boost brainpower as working crossword puzzles.

In this study, researchers surveyed over 3,500 people, ages 24 to 96, about their social interactions, then tested their...