Dementia is not defined as a specific disease; instead it is a more general term that is used to describe a wide range of symptoms related to a decline in memory or other cognitive skills that become severe enough to limit an individual’s ability to perform everyday activities.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and accounts for approximately 60 to 80 percent of all cases. Vascular dementia, which typically occurs after a stroke, is the second most frequent type of dementia.
However, there are several other common medical conditions that can lead to symptoms related to dementia, including several types that are reversible, such as thyroid conditions and vitamin deficiencies, to name a few.
In addition, dementia is commonly incorrectly classified as senile dementia or senility, which specifically references the widespread, but invalid, belief that declines in mental capability and cognitive function are a normal part of the aging process.
Prevent and Fight Dementia with Aerobic Conditioning
A new study performed by the Mayo Clinic and published in the medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings says that any form of exercise that achieves an aerobic effect (meaning you elevate your heart rate to its target rate and maintain that level for at least 20 minutes) may prevent dementia, and it can even slow the progression of that disease if you already have it.
In particular, the study sought to identify a link between aerobic exercise and the preservation of cognitive abilities as we age, and found that exercise could be a simple yet highly effective weapon in the battle against dementia.
What Classifies as “Aerobic Exercise?”
The researchers involved in the study said that a variety of forms of physical activity can be scientifically classified as aerobic exercise, including walking, jogging, using any number of cardiovascular machines at the gym or at home, and even day-to-day tasks such as raking, shoveling snow, mowing the lawn or chopping wood – anything that lifts your heart rate and increases your need for oxygen.
Brain Scans Paint a Clear Picture
The study results were presented based on the findings of over 1,600 medical papers, covering both observational and animal studies relating to cognition and exercise. J. Eric Ahlskog, MD, resident neurologist and researcher at the Mayo Clinic, said that they attempted to create a fair and balanced view of the subject based on all of the available data. Their findings were clear: “You can make a very compelling argument for exercise as a disease-modifying strategy to prevent dementia and mild cognitive impairment, and for favorably modifying these processes once they have developed.”
The study included analysis of numerous brain imaging scans that showed a clear and objective link between exercise and the integrity of the human brain. Again and again, the scans showed that exercise helps to promote neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to create internal connections. These internal connections help to improve memory, comprehension and learning, as well as various other functions generally categorized as cognitive ability.
How Does it Help?
At this point, the researchers still aren’t sure exactly how aerobic exercise helps to facilitate the healthy functioning of the brain, though it may have something to do with the fact that the brain receives additional nourishment in the form of blood and oxygen during and after an aerobic workout. The Mayo Clinic team said that more research would be needed before a “why” and “how” could be attached to the ability of aerobic exercise to prevent dementia.
Regardless, Ahlskog said that the findings are conclusive enough that general care practitioners, not just neurologists, should be stressing the importance of exercise for both physical health and cognitive health during regular patient visits.
