Twice-weekly exercise can improve older people’s memory

Guidelines for medical practitioners have been released and they recommend older people to exercise twice a week as this could improve their memory and thinking processes.

The new guidelines were issued by the American Academy of Neurology and this new method could replace prescribed medication.

Regular exercise is very beneficial as not only does it help older people with mobility problems who need easy access walk in baths and showers and other mobility aids in the home as they struggle to get around, it can also help prevent dementia.

Exercise to help people with MCI

Physical exercise can help older people between the expected cognitive decline of normal ageing and dementia, which is known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Symptoms of MCI include issues with memory, language, thinking and judgment, and can increase the risk of dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other neurological conditions. Research has shown that over 6 percent of people across the world experience MCI and this rises to 37 percent among people aged 85 and older.

Dr Ronald Petersen, lead author of the study and director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Mayo Clinic, and the Mayo Clinic Study of Ageing, told the iNews website, “Exercising might slow down the rate at which you would progress from mild cognitive impairment to dementia.

“Regular physical exercise has long been shown to have heart health benefits, and now we can say exercise also may help improve memory for people with mild cognitive impairment.

“So if I’m destined to become cognitively impaired at age 72, I can exercise and push that back to 75 or 78. That’s a big deal.”

The new guidelines about exercising twice a week have been supported by the Alzheimer’s Association and now doctor’s around the world will be suggesting older people with MCI to exercise twice a week.