If you Google exercise and Alzheimer's you will find all kinds of sites discussing the topic. It has been long thought that exercise can delay the onset of Alzheimer's and bring about improvements once somebody has Alzheimer's. About 900 studies have been done on exercise and Alzheimer's. None of these studies had a clear idea as to what actually happened to bring about improvement. They just find that there is some evidence that improvement occurs.
I had read something on the Internet the other day on this topic but did not finish the article. This morning there was a column in my paper that filled in what I missed. The memory part of our brain keeps on producing more cells. The trigger for growing the new cells is exercise. So this is one of the first times that they have been able to put together a more concrete cause and effect.
Now there are various forms of dementia. Loss of memory is one of the factors. If memory can be increased by growing new memory cells some dementia could be alleviated. There's still lots more tricks that dementia throws at us.
In the "Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain" Barbara Strauch deals with the topic.
The Ontario Brain Institute has just mined 55 different studies on the effects of exercising. Recommendations advise that we exercise over a lifetime for 150 minutes a week.
So there we are again! More reminders of the value of exercise.
Well I skipped my walk today.. I won't do that again tomorrow. Umm.. unless I forget. ;)
ReplyDeleteSharp sense of humor! Love it!
DeleteKeith
ReplyDeleteI think this is in our genes.
It is terrible, and Parkinson's disease enters the fray. Members of my family have suffered from all sides.
I have seen it here in my apartment.
Exercise is great as you say, but some people just give up, or never, worse, will exercise. Walking in very good for you.
Again some people never played sport even in times ago, now????? Well the Internet and cell phones to many are sport.
A few years ago, for you and your readers, and it was a very hot summer, decided to go to the local pub at 8.00pm. The man in the bottom apartment obviously to get cool , I hadn't done this for a few years, but it was "Saunaville" inside.
I even walked 1/2 past him, he had collapsed and I saw his, by then scrawny legs sticking out.
An ambulance was called, poste haste, arrived, checked his multitude of medications.
Found the cause, he was taken to hospital and he released himself the following day. He had his RIGHTS - his
two kids did nothing. Actually his mongrel son robbed him, the poor old bloke and he was younger then me, gave his son
the numbers on his bank cards. He came back with 33 cents in his account. Disgraceful to the 100th degree.
Robbed of all.
The fellow in question was back and forwards to hospital, and he kept signing himself out. I saved him, and I unfortunately must admit, had I not gone out that fateful night he would have died peacefully, I think. I prolonged his life, and the in's and out's of hospitals, the nurses who came to check on him, daily 2 times a day by 3 years, for him misery. He refused to listen, I guess he thought he would win???? He didn't.
Now dear readers get a match stick - that was the size of his body when he was last taken to hospital, his arms and legs were the size of 1/2 match sticks. He died on this last trip, within so I was told 12 hours of being there.
A terrible business, and well done, Keith for bringing this to attention of your readers.
Colin (Brisbane. Australia)
There's much more to these conditions than exercise. Parkinson's runs in my family.
DeleteIs this mental or physical exercise or both? I do lots of word games (Scrabble and crosswords) as well as quite a lot of physical exercise. It would be good to know on which I should concentrate.
ReplyDeleteBoth. But there's much more than physical and mental exercise. These are just small parts of the condition.
DeleteThe problem I have with all such research is what exactly is meant by "exercise". Can I count climbing the stairs, walking the dog, walking from the lounge into the kitchen? Or is it just vigorous exercise - and if so, why?
ReplyDeleteIf you can't sing while you'r exercising, it's vigorous exercise.
DeleteI am glad to know I am addicted to exercise, Red. And I know you are, too, so hopefully that dreaded disease will visit other more sedentary people. :-)
ReplyDeleteExercise is one small part but since I'm interested in exercise I choose to read and write about it.
Deletethanks for the pep talk. i hope i have started exercising early enough to keep the brain alert.
ReplyDeleteI think it's like smoking. The sooner we stop the better . However even quitting later shows benefits.
DeleteAnother study looked at learning another language at an early age, that defrays the event by 7 years.
ReplyDeleteThey've found lots of indications as to what helps but I liked this one as they could pinpoint what actually went on.
DeleteI am guilty of not exercising enough! Prob'ly why I'm so forgetful.
ReplyDeleteBut you have a sharp of humor! That counts for a lot in my books!
DeleteI'm way in excess of 150 minutes a week, so I guess I'm doing that right. Who knows what really works.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you are disciplined to put in the time on exercise. I often think exercise does as much to our head as anything.
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