EXERCISE

Several research studies have determined that exercise is one of the best ways to reduce your risk for dementia.

• For example, after analyzing 16 studies on exercise and dementia, the Alzheimer’s Society found that regular exercise reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 45%, and all-cause dementia by 28%.

• Exercise promotes the development of new neurons and the formation of new blood vessels. Exercise also increases the volume of gray matter in the brain, and the size of the hippocampus (the memory center of the brain). Exercise also helps regulate blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance, all of which are related to the risk of developing dementia.

• Because aerobic and resistance/strength training exercises elicit different neurophysiological changes, studies have indicated that combining both modalities can enhance exercise-induced neuroplasticity to a greater extent than either modality alone.

• Incorporating High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), if possible, has been shown to be more impactful in preventing Alzheimer’s pathology than light exercise alone.