Can Exercise Help Dementia? News Insights
Dementia is a progressive loss of someone’s cognitive abilities, such as thinking, reasoning, memory loss, and language problems. It is a progressive disease, which means it continues to prevail, does not reverse, and leads to Alzheimer’s disease, which is a complete loss of cognitive powers. It mak
es their everyday tasks difficult and usually happen after 50.
Though there are no treatment options available for dementia, there are some exercises that can delay its progression and can alleviate the quality of life.
Does Exercise help Dementia?
Dementia is a neurological disorder in which a person’s nerve cells start to damage due to some biochemical changes in their body cells. Nerve cells are the only cells that can not be regenerated, i.e., once they die and stop working, they can not be replaced by new ones, unlike other body cells.
There are some ways to reverse the progression of Dementia, but physical and mental exercises play a significant role in helping dementia. According to the latest research, physical and cognitive exercises are the best non-pharmacological treatments against dementia.
One study included 16181 participants over the age of 65 to investigate the correlation between physical exercise and dementia. The participants who were involved in physical exercise more than three times a week were associated with a lower risk of dementia.
How Exercises Help Dementia? Scientific Insights
Exercises reverse dementia as they engage the human mind and body. Cognitive exercises stimulate our brain, which in turn keeps our nerve cells actively functioning. Human cells remain active as long as they are used, so the engagement of these cells due to various exercises helps dementia.
1. Improve Blood Flow to the Brain
Exercise is a great way to promote blood circulation to all parts and cells of the body, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to keep them healthy.
2. Reduce Stress and Anxiety
Exercise reduces the signs of stress and anxiety, which are the major risk factors for dementia.
3. Promote Neuroplasticity
Although the brain does not form new cells, physical and mental exercises promote neuroplasticity, which means the brain forms new neural connections itself and slows down cognitive decline.
4. Enhance Mood and Well-being
Exercise releases endorphins, which improve our mood and well-being and, in turn, reverse the risk of dementia.
5. Promote Better Sleep
Dementia patients suffer from sleep loss and irregular sleep patterns, so exercise promotes better sleep.
6. Social Interactions and Well-being
Daily physical and mental exercises in a group promote social interactions and the well-being of the individual. You can play in teams with your family, friends, and kids to promote healthy well-being. Assign and choose funny team names for every group, as it also fosters love, bonding, and a sense of security. It releases dopamine and serotonin hormones, which are correlated with emotional well-being.
Which Exercises Help With Dementia?
Various exercises promote healthy cognitive functions and improve brain powers, such as:
Physical Exercises
Physical exercises to help with dementia are:
Physical exercises for dementia include
● Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercises include walking, swimming, jogging, and cycling, which increase blood flow to the brain.
● Strength Training
Strength training exercises, such as squats, lunges, and push-ups, are also resistance training. They maintain muscle strength and enhance coordination between the body and brain.
● Coordination Exercises
Yoga and tai chi improve our posture and the coordination of mind and body.
Brain Exercises
The exercises which stimulate our brain and improve neuroplasticity are given below.
● Cognitive Activities
Puzzles, crosswords, sudoku, word searches, anagrams, cryptograms, scrabble, and Mad Libs enhance brain potential and train our cognitive abilities to perform better.
● New Skill
Learning a new language, skill, music, dancing, or driving stimulates our neural pathways to promote neuroplasticity. Whatever your age, learning a new skill always stimulates us.
● Memory Exercises
Dementia patients should be engaged in memory exercises such as recalling details of the past, playing memory games, and using memory aid techniques to enhance memory.
Conclusion
Physical and mental exercises promote brain health and well-being. Though they do not completely reverse dementia, they delay its progression. Along with exercise, dementia patients should maintain a balanced diet, sleep properly, and stay hydrated. These strategies will definitely promote everybody’s well-being.