| Without a doubt, an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis is | | | | that you enjoy that's intellectually challenging". |
| perhaps the most frightening prognosis that can be | | | | Yet another expert to weigh in on the Alzheimer's |
| received. Debilitating at best, Alzheimer's symptoms | | | | exercise link is Dr. Lawrence Whalley with the School |
| are so serious that most people with advanced stage | | | | of Medicine at Scotland's University of Aberdeen. |
| Alzheimer's require full-time care. | | | | "Basically, whatever's good for your heart is good for |
| Approximately 4.5 million people in the United States | | | | your head. Mortality of vascular disease in the United |
| currently have Alzheimer's, a number that is expected | | | | States was halved between 1965 and 1995, and this |
| to climb as high as 16 million by 2050 as the baby | | | | is one of the great public-health successes of the |
| boom generation ages. The risk of contracting | | | | 20th century. And what people are looking for in |
| Alzheimer's disease rises as we age, affecting 10 | | | | dementia prevention is the same, because the |
| percent of people older than age 65 and 50 percent | | | | factors that everyone knows predispose to heart |
| of individuals over age 85. | | | | disease also predispose to dementia". |
| Although much progress has been made in the fields | | | | If regular exercise can indeed help to prevent |
| of Alzheimer's medication, Alzheimer's care and even | | | | Alzheimer's disease, then how much exercise is |
| Alzheimer's treatment, researchers have thus far | | | | needed? Less than you might think. Researchers |
| been unable to pin down the elusive Alzheimer's cure. | | | | from Sweden found that ".....those who, in their middle |
| The Alzheimer's Association speaks of two | | | | years, exercised during their free time at least twice |
| Alzheimer's research goals: 1. To prevent onset of | | | | a week were 60 percent less likely to develop |
| the disease in those who are at risk but not yet | | | | Alzheimer's disease compared to sedentary men and |
| afflicted; 2. To treat and delay progression of the | | | | women who exercised less than twice a week. The |
| disease in those who already have the symptoms. | | | | active individuals were also 50 percent less likely to |
| While Alzheimer's disease treatment is surely an | | | | develop other forms of dementia and memory loss" |
| admirable goal, and one that we all need to support, | | | | (source: alzinfo.org). |
| focusing on Alzheimer's prevention may yield more | | | | What the public needs to realize, however, is that |
| immediate results. | | | | just any old workout won't necessarily deliver the |
| Alzheimer's disease prevention tips provided by the | | | | Alzheimer's preventing power they seek. In the |
| Alzheimer's Assoc include staying mentally active, | | | | Sweden study, for example, exercise was defined as |
| being socially involved and adopting a brain-healthy | | | | physical activity lasting at least 20 to 30 minutes and |
| diet (a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet full of vegetables). | | | | intense enough to cause breathlessness and |
| Recent Alzheimer's disease research has also | | | | sweating. That's a far cry from the lightweight, low |
| discovered a link between regular exercise and a | | | | impact and effortless 'exercise' embraced by many |
| decreased risk of contracting the illness. | | | | weekend workout buffs. |
| "A study in Finland of 1,500 elderly people found that | | | | The bottom line is that, while scientists still haven't |
| those who were obese in middle age were twice as | | | | identified an Alzheimer's cause or cure, the amount of |
| likely to develop dementia when they got old as | | | | Alzheimer's information we have available has given |
| those who were of normal weight. For those who | | | | us some useful tools to help us prevent this dreaded |
| also had high cholesterol and high blood pressure in | | | | disease. One such resource is regular exercise, which |
| middle age, the risk of dementia was six times higher | | | | has been proven to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's |
| than those who were not affected" (source: | | | | disease in the majority of people. |
| Philadelphia (Reuters); Mon Jul 19, 3:42 PM ET; by Jon | | | | While there is certainly no guarantee that consistent |
| Hurdle). | | | | exercise, or any other treatment for that matter, will |
| Professor of neuroscience and psychiatry and at | | | | provide full Alzheimer's protection, it can be stated |
| Harvard Medical School, Dr. Joseph T. Coyle states | | | | with certainty that those people who regularly |
| that regular mental and physical activity may help to | | | | engage in strenuous exercise will lower their risk of |
| improve the chances of Alzheimer's prevention: | | | | Alzheimer's. This fact, added to all the other myriad |
| "Crossword puzzles are not bad for you, and they | | | | benefits of regular exercise, makes a strong case for |
| may actually help prevent the onset of dementia. So | | | | joining a health club, gym or fitness center today. |
| I would say get regular exercise.....and find a hobby | | | | |