## Prevent dementia – but how?
Around 1.8 million people live with dementia in germany. Because medications have so far only helped to a limited extent, prevention is becoming more crucial – for example through exercise.But a large new study shows that what matters is not just whether you exercise,but also when in your life. Two phases of life in particular seem to be crucial – exercise at these times can possibly reduce the risk of dementia by up to 45 percent.
Follow the FITBOOK channel on WhatsApp now!
### Prevent dementia – but how?
Anyone who deals with the topic of dementia quickly realizes that the options for protecting themselves are limited. Medication? May slow symptoms but not cure them. Nutrition? Important, but not a panacea. What remains is the lifestyle – and this is where movement comes into focus. Sport is supposed to protect the brain. Sounds plausible. But: is that really enough? And is it perhaps just too late to start at some point?
A new study from the USA investigated this question and examined whether physical activity reduces the risk of dementia. but above all: when in life it is particularly effective. The results are more differentiated than you might expect – and that is precisely why they are particularly insightful.1
Also engaging: In the fight against Alzheimer’s! Chris Hemsworth recreates his childhood home
### How the study was structured
The study is based on the so-called offspring cohort of the Framingham Heart Study, i.e. on the second generation of the study, consisting of the adult children of the original participants from 1948. A total of 4,354 people were recorded in three age groups:
* 1526 people in early adulthood (26 to 44 years old) examined between 1979 and 1983
* 1943 people in midlife (45 to 64 years old) examined between 1987 and 1991
* 885 older people (65 to 88 years) examined between 1998 and 2001
All participants were free of dementia at the beginning of their respective examination phase. Physical activity was recorded once for each person using a standardized questionnaire.The people reported how many hours per day they spent sleeping, sitting and doing light, moderate or intensive exercise. A physical activity index was calculated from this details.
The participants were then medically monitored over a long period of time: on average mo
Early Signs of Alzheimer’s and the Link to Cholesterol
Table of Contents
According to the study
Alzheimer’s may begin much earlier than thoght – in the 20s.
According to the study
Anyone who lowers their “bad” cholesterol can reduce the risk of dementia by 26 percent.
limitations of the study
As with any observational study, there are methodological limitations. Physical activity was recorded only once per life phase. Changes in movement behavior over time were not taken into account. The activity data were based on self-reports, which can lead to bias. Objective measurements, such as through motion sensors were not available.