I think it's obvious that what slows down their dementia is that they're bothering to remember things, socializing, expressing their expertise to peers and comparing notes. Normally a retiree doesn't have that much interpersonal connection, and if they do, it's not usually that intense.

Probably. This is what happens when you let Big Bird fund science.

> So if I swapped the birdwatching with watching horses run or pigs fornicate with everything else being the same (hiking, breathing in fresh air, the eyes seeing natural sunlight etc), I would enjoy the exact same benefits the article claims birdwatching results in?

Those activities typically don't require observation and inference. A big part of birdwatching is identifying small, fast-moving animals that exhibit specific combinations of behaviors at specific times of the year based on specific climatic conditions. That sort of rapidfire pattern matching from video and audio info is probably a big contributor to what keeps the brain sharp.

I think you misunderstand what's involved in birdwatching. It's not just looking, but searching, and using often very fine details to tell different species apart.

Those other things aren’t activities people are currently doing. Bird watching is a social activity with clubs you can join right now.

> so I can enjoy the same effects by looking at tiktoks of birds,

Birdwatching includes looking at top trees searching for birds. Looking at complex fractal-like accumulations of branches and leaves. Also following sounds and identifying their source. The brain was designed for this task.

A screen does not seem a substituted for such a incredible rich experience. Screens are a flat low-resolution, low fidelity view of reality. And no brain has evolved to watch at them. It can actually be quite tiresome to look at screens all day, as so many things about them go against how our eyes and brains work.

Valid criticism, but I recall the study showing cab drivers have the lowest incidence of dementia among all professions, and I thing perhaps there could be something about activating the visual system in 3d space that is uniquely good.

Birds aren't real and obviously just advanced drones designed to spy on us. Obviously we must then only send the most elite and wise of us to monitor them back.

Birdwatching is basically elderly James Bond. Who knows what undercover mysteries grandma and grandpa are secretly discovering

From the original article:

"The extensive training required to achieve domain-specific expertise modifies the brain. Changes in brain structure have been found in domains including music, athletics, and navigation. Training also alters brain activity."

For swift colorful pigs that flit in and out of thick bushes making complex yet signature grunting sounds, yes, I think that would work.

The mindset that every hacker and tinkerer has. Trying to take the system apart and decouple it.

Meanwhile most people just do the traditional thing

I'd also be interested to know what the speed of cognitive decline is OUTSDE the times that you are <birdwatching/hiking/whatever is claimed to cognitive decline>.

Like, if you have a baseline cognitive decline of 25% in 10 years, and you instead spend 2 of those 10 years (total time spent) watching birds to go from 25% to 20% reduction in cognitive decline, you haven't really slowed your cognitive decline, you've just effectively paused it during the time you were watching birds.

so. many. control. groups.