Exercise May Help Reduce Dementia in Older Adults
Spring 2006
It is well documented that regular physical exercise benefits
people of all ages. However, a recent study suggests
that exercise is
especially important for older adults to reduce,
delay or possibly
prevent dementia. The study, funded by the National
Institute on Aging and published
in the Annals of Internal Medicine, followed
1,740 people age 65
years and older for an average of six years.
To be eligible for the
study, participants had to have normal mental
function on a
screening examination.
During each year of the
study, participants
reported the number of days per week they exercised
for at least 15
minutes. Physical exercise included activities
such as walking,
bicycling, aerobics and swimming. Researchers
found that those who
exercised for at least 15 minutes, three times
or more per week, were
less likely to develop dementia than those
who were less active.
Dementia is a condition causing
a slow, progressive deterioration
and decline of mental function. The most common
cause of dementia
is Alzheimer's disease, a brain disorder that
gradually destroys a
person's memory, thinking, judgment, daily activities
and the ability to
learn. An estimated 4.5 million people in the
United States have
Alzheimer's disease and one in 10 Americans over
age 65 have some
form of dementia.
Since there is no cure for dementia,
prevention methods are of great importance
especially with the aging of the “baby boomer
generation” — anyone born in the United
States between 1946 and 1964. It is expected
that the number of Americans diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease will quadruple to 16 million
over the next 40 years.
If you are concerned about
your risk for dementia, talk with your doctor
about how you can incorporate exercise into your
lifestyle. To
learn more about dementia or Alzheimer's
disease, visit the Alzheimer's Association's
web site at www.alz.org.
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