Keep swimming throughout winter to avoid dementia says new study

AS the nights get longer and the days get colder, taking a dip in the ocean becomes less appealing to those of us wrapped up in our roll-neck jumpers.

But dipping a toe during the colder months could benefit our brains, says a new study by the Institute of Cambridge.

By monitoring 40 swimmers at the Parliament Hill Lido in North London, researchers concluded cold water swimming helps protect the brain against dementia.

Those who had been regularly swimming in the Winter water over the last decade had higher levels of ‘cold-shock’ protein, tests concluded.

According to experts, this protein protects the brain against degenerative conditions like dementia.

The aim for scientists is to now find a drug that will have the same effect as cold water swimming.

More than 850,000 people in the UK have dementia, according to the NHS. Meanwhile in Spain, figures are just slightly lower at 800,000.