The Caring Corner®
More Evidence on the Benefits of Exercise
A study recently produced at Cardiff University in Wales shed additional light on healthy lifestyle behaviors that can reduce your risk of dementia.
The researchers identified the following five practices that can reduce the likelihood of developing the disease by 60 percent:
- Regular exercise
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Having a healthy diet
- Not smoking
- Modest alcohol consumption
The study defines “regular exercise” as at least five days/week, for at least 30 minutes each time. The level of exertion should be enough to break a sweat. By “healthy body weight” the study suggests using normal BMI as a measure. “Healthy diet” is understood to be getting at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Modest alcohol intake is defined as no more than three drinks per day.
The investigators concluded that individuals who followed at least out of five of these lifestyle habits reduced their likelihood of dementia and cognitive decline by as much as three-fifths.
In some ways, it’s odd that steps that are so simple are hard for people to follow.
