Exercise Decreases Memory Loss

By Jonathan Belmonte P.T., M.S.

“Where did I park my car?” or “What is today’s date?” are two insignificant slips in memory that can send chills down the spine of an individual over 55.

A recent poll by MetLife reveals that about one-third of this population fears Alzheimer’s and its related dementia more than cancer. This can be fear of caring for a loved one or the fear of its devastating effect on one’s memory, personality, and ability to function independently. What compounds this dilemma is that most of the fear comes from lack of knowledge regarding this disease. As the exact cause and progression is not well understood by even the most astute researchers, the end result is a loss of cognitive function. Cognition is the brain’s ability to process information and put it to use. This can be remembering a grandson’s birthday or how to make a peach cobbler. At this time there is no cure or way to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s, but recent research shows promise in ways to delay it. Recent studies illustrate a positive correlation between regular exercise and a low ratio of dementia onset. These studies state that an individual exercising 3 or more times per week developed dementia less than a person who exercised less than 3 times per week. Although not all research aimed toward dementia has produced such convincing evidence there are still many proven health benefits to regular exercise. Regular exercise provides improvements I blood pressure, diabetes, lipid profile, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and is also associated with decreased mortality and age-related morbidity in older adults.

Beside physical and mental benefits, exercise can raise a person’s quality of life by providing them with the ability to interact with family and the community on an independent basis. If you have a fear of memory loss or a desire to return to activities you once loved, regular exercise is a realistic outlet to be proactive about your well-being. Please contact a healthcare professional before beginning an exercise regimen.

Older Americans Fear Alzheimer’s the Most, While Most Adults Fear Cancer,
May 31, 2006 MetLife Foundation

U.S. Adults Fear Alzheimer’s More Than Heart Disease, Diabetes of Stroke, But Few Prepare
Robert J Nied, MD

Exercise Is Associated with Reduced Risk for Incident Dementia among Persons 65 Years of Age and Older, January 17, 2006
Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH; Li Wang, MS; James D. Bowen, MD; Wayne C. McCormick, MD, MPH; Linda Teri, PhD; Paul Crane, MD, MPH; and Walter Kukull, PhD

Balance Training in 70 year old women

Johansson G, Jarnlo GB
Physiother Theory Pract 1991; 7(2): 121 - 125

70 year old women trained for 1 hour twice a week over a 5 week period. The training program consisted of walking in different directions at different speeds, often combined with movements of the arms, neck, and trunk. Many dancing steps were utilized. Weight transfer activities while sitting and standing, and rising from and sitting down in a chair were performed. Subjects participated in balance, coordination, agility, flexibility, relaxation, muscle strength, power and endurance training.

The 70 year old women showed they have the ability to improve their balance by using specific balance tests and training. This improvement hopefully will lead to a decrease in falls in these geriatric women.

AgeWell employs this approach in the treatment of balance disorders by having patients participate in balance activities on unstable surfaces with their eyes open and closed, with head movements. Patients receive challenges to their balance by their therapist. If a patient needs assistance correcting their loss of balance, a licensed PT/PTA is inches away to assist them.