Alzheimer's disease affects 5.3 million Americans and is the seventh leading cause of death, according to a 2010 report by the Alzheimer's Association of America. Alzheimer's, a progressive brain disease, adversely affects the memory and ability to function independently. Aerobic exercise can help prevent Alzheimer's in healthy adults as well as improve or stabilize the cognitive decline in those suffering from Alzheimer's.
Definition
The Alzheimer's Association reports that Alzheimer's is responsible for 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases. Alzheimer's causes brain tissues to deteriorate; thus, producing loss in memory and cognitive function. Though not an age-associated disorder, increasing age greatly increases your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Symptoms
Several signs can indicate the presence of Alzheimer's disease. For instance, people experiencing memory changes such as forgetting significant dates and events can have Alzheimer's. People with this severe form of dementia also have difficulty concentrating, paying the bills, following recipes and driving to well-known locations. They may confuse times, places and seasons as well as struggle to follow a conversation and retrieve vocabulary words. In addition, those with Alzheimer's often misplace things, use poor judgment and exhibit negative personality changes.
Walking
Walking can decrease mental decline in those with cognitive impairment and may decrease the risk of Alzheimer's in healthy people. A Nov. 29, 2010 annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America presented a 20-year University of Pittsburgh study, led by Cyrus Raji. Raji observed the effects of walking on brain function in healthy, cognitively-impaired and Alzheimer's subjects. Study findings suggest that walking at least five miles per week protects brain volume --- indicating a healthier brain --- and reduces the risk of cognitive impairment in older adults.
Aerobics
Older adults exhibiting early signs of Alzheimer's disease can help prevent mental decline through high-intensity aerobic exercise, according to a study published in the Jan. 11, 2010 edition of the journal "Archives of Neurology." A team led by Laura Baker observed the effects of aerobic training on 33 older adults diagnosed with mild-cognitive impairment. For six months, subjects either participated in high-intensity aerobic exercises or completed stretching activities. The aerobic group demonstrated significant gains in mental agility, when compared to the stretching group, which continued to decline. Baker reports that aerobic exercise likely protects the brain by building heart and artery resilience --- increasing blood flow to the brain.
References
- Alzheimer's Association: Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
- Alzheimer's Association: Know the 10 Signs
- "The Oregonian" : Alzheimer's research: Aerobic Exercise Can Protect Brain, Improve Mental Agility
- MayoClinic.com: Preventing Alzheimer's: Exercise Still Best Bet
- Radiological Society of North America: Walking Slows Progression of Alzheimer's
- Radiological Society of North America: Physical Activity and Gray Matter Volume in Late Adulthood
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