Habits to help prevent Dementia Physical Exercise

 1. Get Regular Physical Activity

Regular physical activity has a beneficial impact on brain health. Exercise helps activate brain plasticity (the brain’s ability to change its own structure as a result of experiences) and positive growth of connections in the brain while decreasing inflammation. These benefits seem to help preserve memory and brain function in healthy older adults as well as those with early signs of dementia.

An active lifestyle can make a difference whether or not you formally hit the gym. The more you move around as part of your daily life, the better it is for your brain health. In fact, research shows that consistent intermittent activity throughout the day, such as brief high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions, is more metabolically beneficial in maintaining and improving brain function than sporadic extended activity. HIIT involves relatively short bursts of vigorous activity that significantly elevate your heart rate, interspersed with rest or low-intensity recovery periods. HIIT can be performed with cyclical exercises such as bicycling, running, swimming, or other whole-body exercises that raise your heart rate.

By Jennifer Weinberg written on November 26, 2019, and published online at https://chopra.com

Editor’s Note: The information in this article is intended for your educational use only; it does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Chopra Center's Mind-Body Medical Group, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health programs.