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How Exercise May Lower Dementia Risk
EXERCISE MAY DROP OUR CHANCES of suffering from Alzheimer’s dementia and slow age-related cognitive decline. We begin with this: Aging and brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease have associations with increased inflammation in the brain.
A recent study suggests that reducing microglial activation may help support the protective effects of physical activity on cognitive functioning. Microglia cells are the immune cells of the central nervous system and consequently play essential roles in brain infections and inflammation.
It is not uncommon to experience some decline in cognitive function as we age. However, some people develop a severe drop in cognitive functions.
Dementia is an umbrella term for significant loss of memory and other cognitive abilities. The Alzheimer’s Association offers that Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease represents 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases.
To be clear, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is not a normal part of aging, even though the most significant risk factor for AD is increasing age, and most of those with the condition are 65 years and older. Early-onset Alzheimer’s is a term applied to younger individuals.
Physical activity appears to reduce the probability of getting severe memory problems such as Alzheimer’s…
