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Doctors say just like our body's our brain needs to be exercised. A new study shows that keeping the mind active can help keep Alzheimer's disease at bay.

Carmen Cox has a good memory. "I am aware that when you get older you lose your memory and I would like to prevent it as much as possible" says the 71-year-old.

Cox is taking classes at UCLA's Semel Institute to help keep her mind sharp. Whether it's brain exercises, computer games or doing a crossword puzzle, research has shown that seniors who keep their mind active can delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

A new study indicates, once alzheimer's hits, those brain exercises might do more harm than good.

Researchers followed two groups of patients. As expected those who kept mentally sharp were able to delay Alzheimer's. But, once the disease took hold, patients in the active group saw their brain function deteriorate faster.

Dr. Gary Small of the UCLA Semal Institute found too much mental stimulation once a person has developed memory loss can be harmful. '"Once people got dementia, it seemed to have the opposite effect, that more mental stimulation seemed to be worse" says Small.

Doctors say there is a silver lining. A slower onset and then a faster rate of decline means the patient will actually suffer from dementia for a shorter period of time.

Researchers speculate the brain is like a muscle. Exercise can make it stronger, but once it's compromised, exercise may actually make it worse. "Mental stimulation sped up brain decline at a certain point " says Small.

Doctors say even if that's true people should continue to exercise their brains. It's still an effective way to fight off Alzheimer's.