The lifestyle choices you make today will make a difference in your future. We all know that years of unhealthy eating may contribute to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers, while your love of the sofa may eventually lead to obesity. But it’s not only your body that may suffer later in life due should you lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Your mind, or cognition, which encompasses your memory and ability to concentrate, may also decline if you don’t make the right healthy choices.

How physical activity boosts the mind

According to a study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, exercise in midlife may protect your cognitive function in old age. During the study, researchers compared the cognition of 3050 twins in a 25-year follow-up. They compared the health of twins where the one was more physically active than the other, and they found that the siblings who exercised more during mid-life had better cognition when they were older.

The good news is that these physically active twins didn’t have to be marathon runners or professional athletes to experience the mind-protecting benefits of exercise; even a moderate amount of activity in their mid-years helped their minds stay sharp. “Overall, the study shows that moderately vigorous physical activity, meaning more strenuous than walking, is associated with better cognition after an average of 25 years,” said one of the researchers, Professor Urho Kujala from the University of Jyväskylä.

How prevalent is dementia?

According to a study done by the University of the Free State, the prevalence of dementia (cognitive impairment), of which Alzheimer’s disease is only one of the causes, is considerably higher in Southern Africa than initially estimated. Previously, it has been assumed that urban black communities have a lower prevalence of the disease. However, their research shows that about 6% of adults over 65 in these communities may be suffering from dementia, which is about 4% more than what they previously estimated.

According to the lead researcher of the study, Professor Malan Heyns, 66% of people with dementia worldwide reside in low and middle income countries. It’s also a disease that doubles in prevalence every 20 years, and according to Alzheimer’s Disease International, about 74.7 million people worldwide will suffer from dementia in 2030.

Dementia, which is the top cause of disability in the elderly, may also be more prevalent in women, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Risk factors of Alzheimer’s and dementia

According to Alzheimer’s Association, your risk for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia may be increased by conditions that also damage your heart. These include:

• High blood pressure.
• Heart disease.
• Stroke.
• Diabetes.
• High cholesterol.

Early symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s may include:

• Memory loss.
• Confusion, especially in unfamiliar environments.
• Difficulty finding the right words.
• Changes in mood or personality, e.g. becoming withdrawn or depressed.
• Finding it difficult to complete tasks.

A sharp memory is one of the things that we all desire in old age. Regular exercise including cycling, swimming, or power walking may help decrease your chances of dementia or other memory-related illnesses later in life. If you have any concerns regarding your cognitive function, consult your healthcare provider.

References:

Midlife Physical Activity and Cognition Later in Life: A Prospective Twin Study.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27589524

Midlife physical activity is associated with better cognition in old age.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160909095045.htm

Cognitive function
http://www.cereboost.com/cognitive-function/

Dementia statistics
https://www.alz.co.uk/research/statistics

Alzheimer’s statistics
http://www.alzheimers.net/resources/alzheimers-statistics/

Higher than expected prevalence of dementia in South African urban black populations
http://www.ufs.ac.za/templates/archive.aspx?news=1871&cat=1.

Risk factors
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_causes_risk_factors.asp

Dementia hits women hardest
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/14/dementia-hits-women-hardest-study