Scientists are continually coming up with new research to support the idea that a well-exercised brain is less-likely to become afflicted with dementia or Alzheimer’s later in life. According to an article in Northwest Arkansas’ The Morning News by Lee Bowman, “Keep Your Brain and Body Working Hard to Avoid Dementia,” regular exercise for the mind and body might be just what the doctor ordered.
It all goes back to the idea that as far as brain and body function goes; you either “use it or lose it.” During a one long-term study, the lifestyles of elderly people with dementia were compared to those of their non-dementia suffering counterparts. The subjects who hadn’t suffered from cognitive decline were all credited with having kept their brains in shape with puzzles, books, music, and even learning new languages.
Another study, done in California, tested seniors with some cognitive impairment on computer programs requiring the individuals to test their memories. With daily repetition of up to an hour and a half per day, those individuals were showing some improvement in memory in a matter of weeks.
And it’s not just brain exercise that lowers your risk of Alzheimer’s. Physical activity, like walking or light aerobics (anything to get the blood flowing to your brain) lowers your risk of conditions that possibly contribute to Alzheimer’s, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Finally, positive news from the frontlines of the Alzheimer’s and dementia battle: brain and body exercises are proving to be an effective weapon against cognitive decline.
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