Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting over 6 million Americans. It is a memory disease that can significantly impact someone’s daily life, making it difficult to perform everyday tasks and properly care for their health.
Alzheimer’s cannot be cured, but treatment options like exercising have been known to deliver positive results and help reduce symptoms or even keep the disease from developing in the first place.
Learn more about the different care options for Alzheimer’s and how Fox Trail Memory Care may be able to help.
Can Exercise Help Alzheimer’s?
Regular physical activities and exercises are known to affect our bodies and mental health positively. It is also shown to have a positive impact on our brains.
Some studies have claimed that those who regularly exercise are less likely to experience mental decline or develop Alzheimer’s as they age. Physical activity can help to keep our blood pumping, increase the production of chemicals that help our brains, and fight back against some of the brain disconnections that can happen with natural aging.
Is Running Good for Alzheimer’s?
Running is an excellent exercise form and can help keep Alzheimer’s at bay. One study showed that people who ran 15 miles per week had a 40% less chance of passing away due to cognitive disease.
What Is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, affecting millions of people across the world. It impacts the part of the brain responsible for controlling thought, memory, and language. It is a progressive disease, meaning that memory declines slowly with time.
Alzheimer’s typically develops in older adults but can become present at earlier ages, known as early onset Alzheimer’s.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Here are some of the symptoms or warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease:
- Memory loss that affects everyday life, such as getting lost in familiar areas or forgetting things
- Trouble handling money or paying bills
- Poor judgment and decision making
- Losing things
- Drastic change in mood and behavior
- Loss of interest in activities
- Distrust of others
- Changes in sleeping habits
If you start noticing any signs in your loved one, it’s important to have an open discussion about their symptoms and plan a visit with their doctor.
Causes of Alzheimer’s
Here are some things that may put your loved one at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s:
- Age: The chances of developing Alzheimer’s increase with age.
- Genetics: If someone in your family had or has Alzheimer’s, it may put you at a greater risk of developing the disease.
- Poor Sleep Patterns: Not getting enough sleep may put you at risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
- Lifestyle Choices: Poor lifestyle choices, like eating unhealthy, not exercising, and smoking, can put you at greater risk of developing the disease.
- Gender: Gender may play a role in one’s likelihood of developing the disease, but further research is necessary to fully understand the connection.
Alzheimer’s Treatment Options
There are many different treatment options to help with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, although no cure has yet been discovered. Here are some of the available treatments to alleviate symptoms:
Medications
Many types of drugs are readily available to be taken to help with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Some medications are used to help with sleeping, discomfort, or mental health problems. Discussing symptoms with your loved one and their doctor and deciding on a treatment plan that works for their condition and needs is important.
Therapy
Therapy can positively affect people with Alzheimer’s by helping stimulate the senses, relax the body, or even trigger memories. Here are some types of therapies being used today:
- Music therapy
- Art therapy
- Pet therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
Speak with a doctor about incorporating therapy into your loved one’s treatment plan and how it may help their condition.
Lifestyle Changes
General lifestyle changes can have a significant effect on improving the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, and may be worth exploring as a treatment plan. Here are a few lifestyle changes that could help:
- Eat healthy and well-balanced meals
- Exercise regularly
- Prevent and manage high blood pressure
- Avoid smoking and tobacco consumption
- Avoid excessive drinking
- Prioritize sleep
- Maintain a healthy weight
How Can Memory Care Help?
Communities like Fox Trail Memory Care are focused on providing residents with the opportunity to enjoy comfortable and active lifestyles while having access to the support of our friendly team. Some of the services provided at a memory care community include:
- Residential setting
- Fully furnished apartments
- Engagement for positive cognitive support
- Activities to engage the mind and brain
- Physical activities to strengthen the body
Visit Our Community Today
At Fox Trail Memory Care, our experienced team is happy to provide services in memory care that enable residents to lead healthy and stress-free lives while getting the support their loved one needs. Please get in touch with us and speak with one of our team members about getting started today.
