Exercise Helps Prevent & Improve Dementia

Exercise has shown to help reduce the risk of developing dementia later on in life or slow down the progress of the disease in those diagnosed with the condition. Even light exercise was found to be better than doing no exercise at all. Any form of exercise is beneficial and the number of different types of exercise undertaken can make a difference as well. Those doing 4 different types of exercise over a 2 week period showed a decreased risk when compared with those performing 1 type of exercise. Exercise can also improve mobility, cardio vascular function, balance and strength, improving a person's quality of life and reducing the risk of falls and hospital admissions. Studies have also shown that exercise helps to improve a person's memory in the early stages of dementia. A trial was conducted where a group of people with memory problems were encouraged to undertake 150 minutes of physical activity per week of moderate intensity (the recommended government guidelines) and showed an improved cognitive function with this improvement lasting for 12 months.