Exercise: New Hope for Alzheimer’s Sufferers?

If you could implement some minor lifestyle changes to reduce and/or prevent a major disease, would you do it?  A change that may just improve the quality of one’s life is adding exercise to the daily routine.  For example, studies are beginning to show that exercise can improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.  This finding is significant because it shows that there are contributing/mitigating factors for this devastating condition.  This provides one of the few encouraging signs that there may be natural ways to slow the progress of this debilitating disease.

Alzheimer’s Toll on Sufferers and their Families
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most dreaded conditions that an aging person can face.  It is a disease that has often been called ‘the long good-bye’ because it can continue for years while afflicted individuals slip away, on both a cognitive and emotional level, leaving behind a shell where there is little self-recognition or memory of self or others. Some of the most frightening episodes occur while an individual alternatively forgets and remembers, many times being all too aware that they are losing their cognitive function.

A further heartbreaking ramification is that the afflicted individual loses the perception of reality as well as the ability to recognize points of reference that healthy individuals take for granted: days of the week, hours on a clock, changing of the seasons. Timeframes are often confused, such that events from the past may be perceived to have just occurred, whereas short-term memory is often very poor to nonexistent.  Any reflection that may arise during lucid periods often leads to significant depression as the individual either recognizes, if only for a moment in time, the faculties that are slowly fading, or believes that what they are experiencing is the beginning of mental instability or even a form of insanity.

This collateral damage caused by this disease is incalculable. Family members may be called upon for indefinite periods of service and sacrifice; especially if the care must take place at home (due to insufficient funds or an unwillingness to subject the afflicted family member to assisted living and respite care).  It is quite commonplace for the psychological and physiological stress imposed upon the family caregivers to affect the health and even relationships of such individuals.  Secondary post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and early death are not unusual repercussions amongst caregivers in the absence of sufficient support and early intervention.

The increasing prevalence of this disease is alarming for many reasons beyond the physiological and emotional ramifications.  It is estimated that by the year 2050 there will be at least four times the number of individuals affected with some form of this condition as are afflicted in 2009; a frightening statistic indeed.  It is inevitable that many will need to change career plans, retirement plans or even childcare strategies to balance their care-giving responsibilities. The loss of income to families, the consequent stress on relationships with children and spouses, ant the loss of productivity in the workforce will be staggering.

Clearly, any activity that shows promise for reducing or delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease is worthy of further investigation. There is simply too much at stake to fail to take heed of any potential measures which appear to yield consistent success at any level.

Exercise and Alzheimer’s – The Mind-Body Connection
Recent studies suggest that exercise can improve (albeit modestly) certain memory problems. The improvement measured was sufficient to be scientifically significant; the reality is, however, that it was barely noticeable by afflicted individuals or their families.  That said, the importance of these results resides with the discovery that there are indeed activities that can impact the course of the disease.  This suggests the possibility that exercise (and any other natural influencers yet to be discovered) may be used earlier in life as a protective measure against memory loss.

These findings beg the question: What changes are you willing to make to ward off the possibility of a disastrous end-of-life scenario?  The evidence suggests that regular exercise can improve certain cognitive abilities, particularly in the realm of memory retention, in individuals with mild symptoms of Alzheimer’s.  Incorporating exercise earlier in life may produce a modest degree of protection from Alzheimer’s (certainly not the ability to eliminate or even to prevent the onset of the disease, but exercise may well delay or reduce its devastating impact).  This is just another bonus of an active lifestyle, as studies have already documented the many significant benefits to emotional, physiological, cognitive and psychological health.

The studies in question noted that three 50-minute sessions of moderate physical activity per week were required to show measurable differences.  This amount of exercise provides a significant difference of .69 points on a cognition measurement test when compared to non-exercising control groups. This level of exercise provides additional, unrelated health benefits which include without limitation: strengthening the muscles around joints to help prevent osteoarthritis, relieving lower back pain, reducing weight to alleviate obesity, asthmatic and diabetic symptoms, reducing symptoms of depression, increasing flexibility, decreasing blood pressure levels and improving cardiovascular function.

Types of Recommended Exercises
Hence the finding that moderate but consistent levels of exercise improves symptoms of Alzheimer’s, and further that such benefits continue to endure. The statistically significant improvement as noted upon cognitive scales was documented eighteen months later.  So what types of activities are recommended?

Walking is the number one recommended activity.  It is a low impact activity that can be started slowly and gradually increased to achieve greater intensity and longer durations.  Daily changes can be made in an outdoor or indoor walking routine (e.g., many people vigorously walk in malls during inclement weather) to keep interest high (which assists in maintaining motivational levels).
Light strength training can be performed from a wheelchair.  Studies have shown that individuals who perform strength training will also improve bone density. Tai chi is an excellent activity for strength, balance and coordination.

Aerobic exercises that have low impact are highly recommended. These include swimming (even walking in waist deep water will build strength, as will walking in deep sand) and bicycling.
Gentle forms of yoga emphasizing mild stretching exercises improve circulation, digestion and focus.

Of course, as noted above, exercise is natural and hence lacks the unpleasant and dangerous side effects associated with most, if not all, prescription drugs.

Other Treatments
There are many other natural treatments/preventatives of Alzheimer’s that have recently received attention.  One study, in a 2008 edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, supported the use of grape seed extract supplements for people who are currently suffer from the disease. The indication, according to this study, is that the symptoms suffered by such patients may be reduced or forestalled.

Other beneficial foods include those that contain omega essential fatty acids, such as flax oil, krill oil, and fish oil.  Foods such as avocado, olive oil and yogurt are other examples of foods that appear, at least preliminarily, to provide beneficial effects to Alzheimer’s sufferers.

In addition to eating a balanced healthy diet and engaging in physical exercise, there are encouraging early studies that indicate that certain cognitive exercises (i.e., chess and crossword puzzles) may improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

The reality is that more evidence is required and studies are ongoing to find the best methods for precluding the early onset and/or reducing the impact of the symptoms of this illness, but certainly any natural remedies are well worth pursuing (provided of course, that any recommended foods or activities do not adversely interact with any other existing conditions or medications).  As always, prior to commencing an exercise regimen or considering dietary changes, always check with a medical professional.

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