Medical professionals have recommended several ways to manage, prevent Alzheimer’s, and also slow down the symptoms of the disease. Among several other measures, exercising also comes as a way to combat this disease. Exercising goes a long way in maintaining and developing our physical bodies.

Moreover, exercising has been found to help combat Alzheimer’s disease in affected persons. We’ll go into an extensive explanation of how exercise can help prevent Alzheimer’s as we advance in the article. In addition, we recommend that you contact a dementia therapist to guide you in managing your Alzheimer’s disease case or client.

Exercise and Alzheimer’s 

Exercising is one of the most popular prescriptions for individuals affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. However, some people are still in doubt about this fact. Research has proven that regularly exercising for a minimum of 30 – 60 minutes several times a week can help to reduce a person’s risk of being affected by this disease.

Why exercising can help prevent Alzheimer’s

The human brain needs the blood flow in the body to flow properly. Proper blood flow in the body facilitates the production of neurotransmitters present in the body. Neurotransmitters are chemicals found in the body, used by the nervous systems to send information between neurons and from neurons to other parts of the body.

Some benefits of exercising on your mental health

  • Regular exercise helps to improve the reasoning, judgment, memory, and cognitive function of persons still in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • It also helps to reduce the chances of getting affected by Alzheimer’s disease for individuals who show signs of such.
  • Exercising helps to grow a part of the brain known as the hippocampus. This part of the brain is responsible for the formation of memories.
  • Individuals who get involved in regular exercise have a reduced risk of obesity and depression, risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Physically active individuals are less prone to a decline in their mental function. This goes a long way in minimizing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later on.
  • Studies have shown that aerobic exercises are highly beneficial in improving attention, processing speed, and memory in individuals who do them regularly.

Other measures that can help prevent Alzheimer’s

Take steps to stay socially and mentally active

Some evidence has shown that individuals who stay engaged in constant mental and social activities are less prone to developing Alzheimer’s disease. Such activities help to keep your brain functional by giving a constant list of tasks to do. 

Some computer games have been found to boost cognition in individuals for short durations. However, more research is needed to be certain that it can help prevent Alzheimer’s. Below are some steps to keep your brain active:

  • Learn to play a musical instrument.
  • Find any foreign languages that interest you and learn them.
  • Try to stay engaged with new activities or games.
  • Play mentally tasking games such as scrabble or chess.
  • Lower your risk of heart-related diseases

Recent studies have associated cardiovascular diseases with a heightened risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Taking steps to prevent such disease will also help to reduce your risk of other serious health issues such as heart attacks or strokes.

Some of the measures you can take to prevent these include:

  • Eating balanced diet
  • Regular exercise
  • Minimal to zero consumption of alcohol. We recommend a maximum of 14 alcohol units per week.
  • Going for medical checkups regularly to make sure your blood pressure is normal
  • Abstinence from smoking.
  • Take care of risk factors while they’re still new.

There are several factors, which if ignored, can result in Alzheimer’s in the long run. So, you must keep them in check while they haven’t escalated. Below are some of the risk factors of Alzheimer’s you should look out for:

  • A sedentary lifestyle.
  • Social isolation or loneliness.
  • Hearing loss
  • Prolonged depression.

Conclusion

Exercising comes with numerous benefits to your physical and mental well-being and shouldn’t be taken for granted. Exercise can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease because it increases the blood flow to the brain and also facilitates the release of neurotransmitters to the brain. Also, regular exercise increases the hippocampus, thus, enhancing memory formation in the brain.