Regular Physical Activity Can Reduce Risk Of Dementia, Finds UK Study

Dementia, as per the Alzheimer's Association, is not a single disease, but an overall term to describe a collection of symptoms that one may experience if they are living with diseases like Alzheimer's. It is an umbrella term for loss of memory, and other cognitive and thinking abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Types of dementia could include Alzheimer's, Vascular, Lewy body, Frontotemporal, and others which can include Huntington's disease, and mixed dementia.

As per the National Health Service, UK, more than 944,000 people in the UK have dementia. this means 1 in 11 people over the age of 65 have dementia in UK. However, there is a ray of hope. A recent study published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology found that everyday activities like household chores, exercising, and socializing can help lower the risk of dementia.

The study was conducted for 11 years, which involved 5 million people. The study found that the risk of dementia lowered in participants who were active.

What did the study conclude?

It was noted that people who exercised regularly had a 35% lower risk of dementia. Whereas those who were actively working around the house, taking care of household chores could reduce their risk by 21%. People who also socialized with their friends and family had a 15% lower risk of being affected by dementia.

Author of the study Huan Song, from Sichuan University, China, said that the research is a basic findings and that more such studies are needed to confirm the results. Though Song agreed that lifestyle changes can prove to benefit the elderly and lower their chance of dementia.

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What are the subtle, but important signs of dementia one should not miss?

Dr Ahmad Khundakar, a senior lecturer in biomedical science and dementia research at Teesside University noted the following signs to look out for:

• Tasks you previously handled with ease, including organizing your schedule, preparing meals, becoming more challenging
• Interactions with loved ones and others start to feel different as following the conversation, retaining the content of the conversation and recalling names becomes harder
• Activities that once brought happiness like reading or pursuing hobbies, do not feel good anymore

Dr Bing Liao, MD, Neurologist, based in Houston also revealed five simple, at-home tests for dementia that one can try once they start noticing the above mentioned symptoms.

Single Leg Stand Test: This measures balance and motor coordination of a person. So for those with two legs and no mobility issues, difficulty for standing on one leg for 30 seconds has been linked to a higher risk of dementia. This is because it reflects subtle deficits in the brain area that controls your balance and motor skills.

Smell Test: This is because early dementia often affects the smell center of your brain. Problems with smell identification can indicate neurodegeneration, such as in those with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.

A Clock Drawing Test: Ask a patient to draw a clock showing a specific time. If someone has difficulty with spatial organization or attention and planning, such as with Alzheimer's disease, this task could be very difficult.

Dual Task Gait Test: This test looks at the ability to walk while performing a cognitive test looks at the ability to walk while performing a cognitive test, like counting backwards. Difficulty with this test can indicate problems with executive function, memory or attention.

Verbal Fluency Test: An example of such a test is the category fluency test, where patients are asked to name as many items as possible within a category, such as animals in a minute. Difficulty in recalling words within a set time frame can indicate cognitive decline in certain regions of the brain.