As we age, there is no shortage of things to worry about. While cognitive decline and dementia can seem inevitable in aging, research has shown that staying physically active may help protect against these issues.
Moderate physical activity could mean maintaining a sharp mind into old age or avoiding developing memory problems in your golden years. If you're looking for a convenient path to lower your risk of developing dementia or cognitive impairment down the line, it turns out that a little bit of physical activity each day can make a world of difference.
That's right—no fancy diet changes or expensive supplements necessary—simply exercising 30 minutes a day can help reduce your risk and improve your mental and physical health.
If you've been hesitant about getting more active in daily life, now is the time to act. Read on to discover why moderate physical activity benefits those with dementia or cognitive impairment.
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Risks of Dementia & Cognitive Impairment
Dementia and cognitive impairment is a growing problem in today's society. While dementia could affect anyone, the risk for dementia increases significantly with advanced age. We're talking about progressive brain degeneration here, folks—dementia impedes the ability to think and reason effectively, resulting in impaired speech, walking, and difficulties with other physical activities.
That's why we must be aware of the associated risks, so we can work towards preventing more cases from arising in the future.
A recent study published in the Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association has revealed that keeping up with even a minimal amount of physical activity each day can significantly prevent dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
The team reported that for women aged 65+, just 15 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per day could significantly reduce dementia risk in older adults. It also showed that even taking additional steps daily could decrease dementia occurrences.
With dementia and cognitive impairment taking such a toll on seniors, it’s critical to start prevention as early as possible. That's why physical activity has become so important – it’s been recognized as one of the best methods to keep dementia at bay.
Believe it or not, all the sweating and panting can help protect individuals from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. By getting our bodies active now, we will be one step ahead of dementia later on down the line. The good news is that there's no need for strenuous activities; even moderate exercise—like taking a quick walk around the block - can do wonders for dementia prevention.
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Effects of Physical Activities
With dementia being one of the leading causes of disability and death in today's elderly population, understanding physical activity's role in preventing dementia is crucial for public health.
It’s no secret that exercising can boost your mood, reduce stress, and even improve cognitive abilities. Study shows that regular exercise not only helps to maintain a sharp memory, it's also linked with significantly lower dementia risks.
Physical activity can act as a natural preventative measure against dementia and cognitive impairment in both the older and younger population.
Fortunately, there has been new research into the amount and intensity of physical activity needed to reduce dementia risk. This research suggests that older adults should focus on increasing moderate-intensity activity and taking more daily steps to lower their risk for mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Staying active doesn't just make us look and feel good—it could help keep dementia and cognitive impairment at a stand still. According to the research, senior women were less likely to experience dementia or mild cognitive impairment if their daily activity, including walking and moderate-to-active physical movement. By adhering to this advice, it may be possible to protect our loved ones from dementia later in life.
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Wonders Moderate Physical Activities Can Do
A recent study indicated that moderate physical activity levels have significant dementia-fighting potential.
In short, you don't need to join a triathlon team or strap on weights to work out to protect yourself from dementia and other cognitive issues. Simple things like taking a walk around the block or doing some yoga daily can do wonders for keeping your mental capacities "fit."
And hey, even if dementia isn't a concern for you, exercising is still beneficial anyway! Everyone could benefit from something mindless yet practical; why not make it moderately active?
If you think dementia is a problem for old folks, think again. Inactivity can lead to an increased risk of dementia and cognitive impairment in adults of all ages, so start taking Pre Workout Supplements to buckle up energy and take a round in your backyard.
Setting the alarm once a day can be a great reminder to get up, have a healthy walk around the apartment, or even add exercise to your routine. Adding as little as 30 minutes of daily physical activity like walking or running to your routine and taking Adaptogen Assist Supplements for cognitive functioning is one of the easiest ways to start reducing your dementia risk.
You can start with minimal workouts or physical activities that are not very exhausting but ones that keep you active and decrease the risks of dementia. Also, keep a Shaker Bottle with you to stay hydrated and fight unnecessary excuses during these sessions and consider taking Creatine Powder Supplements after the workouts to help combat the fatigue that may trouble your body.
Don't forget that adding exercise can bring improved brain health, better body shape, and weight loss benefits, and also add up to reduce risks of diseases like dementia and cognitive impairment.
So when your grandma tells you to put down the tablet, iPad, and smartphone, she might protect your memory in her own polite (and persistent) way. It's probably time to show her that you've been listening after all - take an extra lap around the block today.
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FAQs
1. How to help someone with cognitive impairment?
The simplest, most effective way is to show your support and patience. Make sure to talk about topics in a familiar, straightforward way, and don’t overwhelm them with too much information at once. It's also essential to take the time to listen without judgment. Making time for meaningful conversations and sharing fond memories will go a long way toward helping them through this difficult time.
2. How fast does mild cognitive impairment progress?
Understanding the progression of mild cognitive impairment can be challenging to assess for many reasons. Although dementia and cognitive impairments can be common, it often varies from person to person and can range from minimal to severe depending on one’s situation and lifestyle.
But, if you are worried about your memory, no matter how “mild” it may seem, it's still critical to getting checked out by a doctor who will determine the extent of your symptoms and work with you to figure out an individualized treatment plan. Knowing how fast dementia will worsen is hard to pin down, but you want to start taking proactive steps sooner rather than later.
3. What are examples of cognitive impairment?
Examples include stroke-related dementia (Vascular dementia), dementia caused by frontotemporal degeneration, memory loss due to aging (called senile dementia), and Dementia with Lewy Bodies—which involves symptoms such as visual hallucinations, impaired movement, and confusion about time or place.
4. What is the difference between mild cognitive impairment and dementia?
The primary difference is that dementia is more advanced than mild cognitive impairment. People living with dementia generally experience long-term memory loss that affects daily activities. In contrast, those with mild cognitive impairment will just have slight issues like forgetting names or numbers but still be able to function relatively normally.
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Article Sources
- Nguyen, Steve, et al. ‘Accelerometer‐measured Physical Activity and Sitting with Incident Mild Cognitive Impairment or Probable Dementia among Older Women’. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Jan. 2023, p. alz.12908. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12908.
