Exercising Now Can Prevent Dementia Later

It's always hard to keep up a solid exercise routine during the holiday season, but I encourage you to stick with it!  Making a little time each day for exercise will benefit you for years to come.  As Benjamin Franklin said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

In a short radio interview, Dr. John Higgins, Sports Cardiologist, discusses a recent study published from Wales looking at effects of exercise on prevention of dementia and other cognitive impairments.  The link to the interview is provided at the end of this entry if you would like to listen first hand, but some of the highlights are as follows:

1. 2000 individuals were included in this study; they were between the ages of 25-49, and the study followed them for several years.

2. It was observed whether the participants exercised regularly, did not smoke, had a normal body weight, ate a healthy diet, and consumed alcohol rarely or in moderation.

3. It was found that regular exercise provided the strongest prevention against dementia or cognitive impairments later in life.  Participants followed the typical guidelines set forth through the ACSM of 150 minutes of physical activity each week.

This translates to 20-30 minutes of activity on 5-6 days per week.  Anything that increased the participants' heart rate could be included, and the exercise was cumulative throughout the day.  The bottom line...keep up that exercise routine; it increases blood flow to all your vital organs, including your brain.  This allows for better brain function both now and later.

Exercise in your 20s Wards off Dementia in your 70s