Exercise, Dementia, and You – Can You Prevent Brain Deterioration By Staying Active?

A recent study in Neurology, a leading scientific journal, has shown a strong link between exercise and dementia which may lead to some promising new prevention methods. In the study, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Associate Professor and the Canada Research Chair at the University of British Columbia, details the effects that regular, moderate exercise can have at preventing vascular cognitive impairment – the second most common cause of dementia, behind Alzheimer’s disease.

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2016 – The Facts And Statistics About Alzheimer's – A Growing Problem

As a nation, and as people, Alzheimer’s is one of the most important issues that we will be facing in the next few years. This is because, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, the 5.4 million people in the US diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is only going to grow – due to the baby boomer generation that is, just now, beginning to reach the at-risk age of 65 and beyond. Because of this, and the continued population growth of the United States, it is estimated that the number of people who are estimated to be diagnosed with Alzheimers in their lifetime could nearly triple – going from 5.4 million to nearly 13.8 million by the year 2050. Based on a more liberal estimate, the US Census Bureau places the top number at nearly 16 million.

BUILDING BETTER BRAINS – HOW TO BOLSTER YOUR BRAIN AGAINST MEMORY PROBLEMS, DETERIORATION, AND DEMENTIA

If you or a loved one are concerned about Alzheimer’s or dementia due to family history, poor health, or any other factors, don’t worry – there are steps you can take that, while not guaranteed to prevent mental deterioration, have recently been shown to be beneficial to overall brain health and mental acuity, and may lower the risk of the development of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. We’ve put together a quick list below.

-       Get active – Studies have shown that light physical activity can help increase blood flow to the brain by elevating your heart rate. In addition, exercise and physical activity will increase your quality of life by increasing your fitness level, and decreasing the chances of deleterious conditions such as type II diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

-       Get your study on  – Formal education has been shown to be a great way to increase brain function, and get your mind active, reducing your risk of cognitive decline. Consider auditing a community college class, or taking a course online through a service like Khan Academy.