A study shows that elderly nuns were not dement, even though their brains had the characteristics typical of Alzheimer's. Apparently their brains have regenerated with new links. What has made this possible? The faith, the meaningful life in the social work, rules and retreat beside co-operation and practiced charity - or all together?

Kurt Langbein and Andrea Eder accompany everyday life in the Order of the Merciful Sisters in Vienna and explore the question of what we can learn from the sensational results of the nun study with 600 nuns in the United States. "The prevailing view on Alzheimer's says that there are deposits in the brain. Nerve cells are dying, all research has focused on these deposits," brain researcher Gerald Hüther explains the meaning, "and now suddenly comes a study and says: You can have such deposits and degradation processes in the brain, and quite pronounced, and nevertheless you have no symptoms for dementia ". According to the new findings of neurobiology, the brain is able to create new connections into old age.

Nuns with their community life, their tasks, their faith and the quiet daily routine obviously have good conditions there.

But this is not limited to monastic life: Above all, meaningful life and positive challenges in old age contribute to "that we can expand these networks again," said Hüther: "And no later than at this point politicians would have to wake up, doctors would have to wake up too, because that means that if you can shape your aging differently, then you will become happier and healthier. "