The link between exercise, lifestyle and dementia

You may have a family history of dementia or you may be concerned about encountering a form of the disease as you age. What if we told you that even those with genetically higher risk of developing dementia are able to prevent or slow its progression with some simple lifestyle changes? Recent studies suggest a strong link between exercise and dementia, and we have compiled the information in this article.

How are lifestyle and dementia connected?

A research conducted by UK scientists found that only around 11 in every 1,000 healthy adults with genetically higher risk of dementia, actually developed it. This is compared to 18 in every 1,000 adults with unhealthy behaviours. The researchers considered healthy habits to be the following: 

• Not smoking (at the time of the study) 

• Regular physical activity, which includes a minimum of 75 minutes of vigorous exercise or 150 minutes of moderate exercise, or a combination of the two 

• Wholefood rich diets, which include plenty of fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, while limiting processed meats to once a week and red meats and refined grains to 1.5 servings per week 

• Moderate alcohol consumption of no more than 1.75 units a day for women and 3.5 units a day for men 

What these results are showing is that, although we cannot change our genes, we have a real chance of significantly reducing the risk of dementia development by making healthier choices. These findings are empowering, especially to those who are more likely to develop dementia in later stages of life.

The best form of exercise for dementia care and prevention

It’s no secret that regular movement will help provide support for dementia care. But the one form of exercise researchers found to be the most effective is aerobics. This study examined adults aged 55 or over who had mild cognitive impairment (MCI). They split subjects into two groups, those who performed flexibility training, and those who performed aerobic exercise for 30 minutes, 4 to 5 times per week. The group who performed aerobics demonstrated losing less volume in the hippocampus, which is a region of the brain that deteriorates, relative to dementia progression. Whether you have early symptoms of cognitive impairment or not, try incorporating aerobic exercise into your lifestyle to keep your brain active for years to come.

Other benefits of exercise and ways to prevent dementia

If exercise has been a part of your life already, benefits such as improved cognitive function, better sleep, more confidence, healthier joints and stronger muscles will be familiar to you. You may not know that being active also reduces the risk of some types of cancer, type 2 diabetes and the risk of developing osteoporosis. Further, improved heart health and blood vessels, and managing your blood pressure will help in dementia prevention. With all of this in mind; regular physical activities for dementia patients can slow down the development of the disease; whilst improving quality of life; by prolonging their independence and enriching their social life. Everything should be agreed with a medical practitioner first, to confirm that the intended exercise is suitable for your loved on. These simple lifestyle changes, recommended by medical researchers, should help you in looking after your loved one and encourage you to create better habits that will benefit you in the long run. You can see our other article on exercise and dementia here.