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Can we do anything about dementia?

How to help Stave off Dementia

What’s the most effective way to keep your brain healthy and stave off dementia as you age? You may not want to hear the answer….but it’s physical exercise, the type most of us hate, where we elevate our heart rate for at least 30 minutes several times a week….but it’s not all bad news.

You don’t need to be on a treadmill or stationery bike looking at that dreaded clock countdown, just to have the machine tell you you’ve burned off the same calories as a chocolate chip cookie.

I’m not talking about weight loss here, that’s a whole other story. I’m talking about our ability to stay cognitive savvy in our later years…..so you can ditch the treadmill if you want, a fast walk works just as well. I have a dog and our daily walks are something I actually look forward to.

Technically the neurons in our brain need oxygen and glucose from our blood supply in order to operate correctly, and as our circulatory system ages it has a more difficult time delivering it……and exercise helps overcome this.

There’s a whole bunch of other stuff about growth factors, plasticity and proteins that support synaptic growth in the brain….but who cares? Well actually I do, but most people don’t. I just find that in most every keynote presentation or memory workshop I give, more and more people are concerned about the decline of their cognitive abilities as they age.

So don’t think it’s too late! Middle agers who exercise regularly are one-third less likely to get Alzheimer’s in their seventies as those who do not. Even people who begin exercising in their sixties can cut the risk down by up to one half.

You don’t have to join a gym, gym memberships spike every January then fall off come March. New Year’s fitness resolutions are made with the best intentions but most people don’t follow through. You don’t have to join a gym. If you don’t currently exercise, go see your doctor and ask him/her about starting an exercise program that can be done at home or involves walking. Maybe start with a walk two or three times a week, then crank up the pace….who knows, you just might get to finish that Sudoku by the time you’re ninety!

Funny, unique and interactive in his entertaining conference keynotes and workshops, Bob Gray reveals the untapped potential in each of us. His empowering systems and their many applications in the business world give participants immediate ‘walk away’ value. Book Bob Gray today as your next conference keynote speaker.  Watch Bob in action.

 

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