Is this the easiest way to prevent or delay Alzheimer's and dementia?

A slightly fading memory – forgetting a few names, where you left your keys – is not uncommon as you grow older, but dementia and Alzheimer’s are so much more than that. While there is currently no cure or drug to stop or slow down Alzheimer’s or dementia, the positive news is that each of us is able to take action to delay the impacts. Research around the cognitive benefits of movement and exercise grows more compelling each year.

“We need to be able to move through life without the fear that as we age, both our bodies and our brains will inevitably fail us. A certain level of decline in both body and mind is natural, but we should embrace the fact that there are simple actions we can take and habits we can build to ensure that we can be active, confident and ready for whatever life throws at us,” says Liz Grantham, founder of TheOptimal.me – a lifestyle, health and fitness platform for midlifers.

And for those of us heading for, or are currently in, midlife, the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation found it can halve your risk for developing Alzheimer’s and deliver increased improvement in memory and cognitive abilities in women between the ages of 40 and 60.

“Of all the lifestyle changes that have been studied, taking regular physical exercise appears to be one of the best things that you can do to reduce your risk of getting dementia,” says the UK Alzheimer’s society.

Why does exercise/ movement work so well?

“Exercise is like a super-charged 401K for your brain, only better, because of its immediate, long-lasting and protective effects on the brain,” says New York University neuroscientist Dr Wendy Suzuki, who is currently researching the effect of physical activity on your brain. “The research shows that as we age, it is imperative to stay in motion and exercise to maintain cognitive function.”

Movement significantly strengthens two of the key targets of both diseases, the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. If you exercise regularly, your hippocampus will be bigger, meaning that it will take that much longer for the plaques and tangles of Alzheimer’s disease to cause the common symptoms we know. That means months, or hopefully years, of higher cognitive abilities.

What if you loathe exercise, or haven’t really moved in years?

Most people think of exercise as hitting the gym or running miles every day – but you don’t need to run marathons to benefit from its anti-ageing properties (although go ahead if you do). As little as 15 minutes a day of integrated movement can offer as much, if not more benefit than traditional exercise.

TheOptimal.me created Integrated Movement Routines (IMRs) © to make it simpler and easier to integrate movement into the busiest of lifestyles. They focus on working all your muscles and joints together, as they are made up of movement patterns that mimic how we move naturally in life – rather than the isolated movement of traditional exercise. The outcome is that in as little as 15 minutes a day, you can significantly improve your alignment, flexibility, mobility, and balance, and of course, keep your brain active and sharp.

Experts agree that it’s never too late to start moving and improving your cognitive function. And programs like TheOptimal.me could be just the solution for those who find it difficult to fit exercise into their lives or for those who dread the thought of a gym or running or even just the word ‘exercise’.

“We understand that individual needs are unique; not everyone is already active, some of us are just overwhelmed by what to do or how to get started. To help solve these dilemmas our online classes are created to get your body in full motion, whether you’re a couch potato or consider yourself an athlete. Shorter, longer, easier, more challenging. Our mission is to get everyone moving their bodies without fear or limitations – especially as we get older,” says Grantham.

Is exercise a cure-all?

Exercise is not going to cure Alzheimer’s or dementia will certainly have drastic impacts in the long run. And, of course, there are other significant benefits to moving and exercise in addition to better brain health – stronger muscles, bones, cardiovascular strength, improved respiratory function and more – all of which will will kick in nearly immediately.

**TheOptimal.me offers a 30-day free trial which includes a free 21-day movement course to help you build your mobility and get into the habit of moving.

Sponsor Ads

• Ad Space Available - Rent it Now!

Report this Page

Created on Nov 5th 2021 08:33. Viewed 196 times.

Share on APSense

Comments