A flurry of research connects physical exercise to an improvement in cognition. Some studies show how exercise can provide a protective effect, or slow cognitive decline in some people. Several more studies are under way examining exercise as an early treatment for dementia, as a way to improve sleep in people with dementia and looking specifically at whether the fast-paced dance exercise Zumba can be helpful.
Certainly exercise provides no guaranteed benefit, but it is generally accepted as part of a healthy lifestyle---one that may have a beneficial effect on dementia without costing a fortune.
Definition
Dementia is a decline in cognitive function that interferes with daily life. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia among older people. It is not a normal part of aging.
Background
Lots of studies have linked exercise with dementia improvement.
Researchers in Quebec followed 4,615 Canadians over five years and found that "compared with no exercise, physical activity was associated with lower risks of cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease and dementia of any type," they wrote in the "Archives of Neurology" in March 2001.
A study in the journal "Mental Health Nursing" in February 2006 demonstrated how exercise slowed and reversed disability in some of the daily activities among patients in Australia, and slowed the rate of progression of cognitive symptoms.
More recently, in the March 2010 issue of "Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association," researchers showed how people following the DASH diet, combined with exercise, saw a 30 percent improvement in brain function. And, the "Archives of Internal Medicine" published two relevant studies in January 2010---one from German researchers showing that moderate or high physical activity is associated with reduced incidence of cognitive impairment, and another from Canadian researchers who tied resistance training to the improvement of executive function.
Types of Exercise
Alzheimer's specialists in Australia say selecting an activity that is enjoyable is key and suggest the possibilities of gardening, walking, swimming, water aerobics, yoga and tai chi.
Biological Explanation
Doctors at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle explain how exercise might help preserve brain function in a January 2006 article in the "Annals of Internal Medicine." They said improved cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery help, and that exercise appears to induce fibroblast growth factor in the hippocampus, part of the temporal lobe.
Seattle neurologist Dr. Barry Thompson writes in the "Seattle Post-Intelligencer" that among older people who exercise, the loss of gray matter with aging is reduced; new nerve cell formation is enhanced and pathways that allow neurons to communicate are strengthened; blood vessels in the brain grow in diameter, to allow for better blood flow; and the areas of the brain that govern reasoning, judgment and memory increase in volume.
Other Benefits
The Family Caregiver Alliance points out that regular exercise can help minimize restlessness in dementia patients, which is one thing that prompts wandering.
In addition, some research is also connecting exercise---specifically, "exergames," the use of entertaining video games that combine play with activity---with the reduction of depression in senior citizens, another disease with which many people with dementia suffer. One of the researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine told SeniorJournal.com that more than one-third of study participants saw a 50 percent or greater reduction of depressive symptoms, plus increased cognitive stimulation. Participants played the wireless, motion-sensing Wii games of tennis, bowling, baseball, golf or boxing for 35 minutes three times a week.
Brain Exercises
Physical exercise seems to have an effect on brain health, but recent research has also examined the importance of staying mentally active for brain health. Dr. Barry Thompson, a neurologist, writes in the "Seattle Post-Intelligencer" how learning new information and daily cognitive exercises (such as brain teasers and crosswords) can preserve brain health. He says older adults who are in good physical shape also have quicker mental reaction times.
Exercise Precautions
Once medically cleared for activity, people with dementia need to follow precautions that any senior adult would follow. These include warming up before exercise and cooling down afterward; avoiding slippery floors and poor lighting; and working out in an area with proper handrails and grab bars for balance. For people with mobility impairment, some exercises can be done from seated positions.
References
- Archives of Internal Medicine: Resistance Training and Executive Function: January 2010
- Archives of Internal Medicine: Physical Activity and Incident Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Persons; January 2010
- Mental Health Nursing: A randomised controlled trial testing the impact of exercise on cognitive symptoms and disability of residents with dementia; Feb. 2006
- Archives of Neurology: Physical activity and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia; March, 2001
- Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association; DASH Diet Lowers Blood Pressure and Lipid-Induced Oxidative Stress in Obesity; March 2010
