Does Exercise Help to Slow Down Diabetes & Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s, Diabetes and Exercise:
Alzheimer’s and exercise are the new focus of studies all over the world. Everywhere people are looking for ways to prevent the onset and slow the progression of this heartbreaking disease. Present day medications and supplements are failing miserably.
Nothing seems to slow Alzheimer dementia or prevent it from taking away the personality of millions of older people, type 2 diabetics among them.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a serious brain disorder that impacts daily living through memory loss and cognitive changes.
Although not all memory loss indicates Alzheimer’s disease, one in ten people over 65 years of age, and over half of those over 85 have Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, 26 million people worldwide have this dementia, and over 15 million Americans will be affected by the year 2050.
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Alzheimer Symptoms:
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease usually develop slowly and gradually worsen over time, progressing from mild forgetfulness to widespread brain impairment. Chemical and structural changes in the brain slowly destroy the ability to create, remember, learn, reason, and relate to others. As critical cells die, drastic personality loss occurs and body systems fail.
What Does Alzheimer’s Do?
- Alzheimer’s wipes out memory and eats away at mental abilities.
- A woman who has been cooking all her life can no longer follow a simple recipe.
- A concert pianist can’t remember how to play the piano.
- There are problems finding words and following conversations.
- Alzheimer’s victims repeat themselves a lot because they can’t remember what they said.
- And they ask the same question over and over, unable to keep the answer in their minds.
- Depression hits many with diabetes and Alzheimer’s,
- and they stop doing the things they used to love – hobbies, work, their social life.
- In the early stages, they are aware of what they are losing, and it frightens them.
- This is why the link between Alzheimer’s and exercise is so exciting to those who research it.
- Watching the slow erosion of personality from sufferers has spurred them to prove that exercise slows down the disease.
What’s the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s?
” It’s a common question, and doctors are some of the best at confusing us. Physicians seem to prefer the word “dementia,” possibly because Alzheimer’s has become such a loaded word. “Dementia” somehow sounds less frightening to many people, and now even the experts have started using the words interchangeably.
They aren’t interchangeable. Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia are two very different things.
Dementia is a Symptom.
- Pain is a symptom, and many different injuries and illnesses can cause pain.
- When you go to the doctor because you hurt, you won’t be satisfied if the doctor diagnoses “pain” and sends you home.
- You want to know what is causing the pain, and how to treat it.
“Dementia” simply means the symptom of a deterioration of intellectual abilities resulting from an unspecified disease or disorder of the brain.
Alzheimer’s Disease is one disease disorder that causes dementia.
- Many other illnesses or “syndromes” can also cause dementia.
- Parkinson’s Disease can cause dementia.
- A stroke can cause dementia.
- Even dehydration can cause dementia.
Many of the things that can cause dementia are treatable, even potentially curable.
- If you have taken your elder to the doctor and received a diagnosis of “dementia” you haven’t received a diagnosis at all.
- Unless you know what is causing dementia you can’t begin to treat its root cause.
- If your physician has diagnosed “dementia” it’s time for a second opinion.
- You are probably dealing either with a physician who is not comfortable with the truth, or one who doesn’t know how (or doesn’t want to bother) to differentiate between all the possible causes of dementia.
- Either way, a skilled geriatrician or a neurologist who is comfortable with seniors would be a good place to start.
Type 2 Diabetics, Alzheimer’s and Exercise:
Diabetes, Alzheimer’s and exercise have a strong link.
The best hope for curing type 2 diabetes right now is exercise. Now research is showing that the same exercise may slow down the onset of Alzheimer’s dementia and improve the memory of Alzheimer patients.
One out of every eight people will have Alzheimer’s as they get older. But staying active, and even becoming active, changes the outcome. And it does not matter how old you are when you start.
Physical activity that raises your heart rate for 30 minutes or more slows the decline in mental function in people diagnosed with MCI (mild cognitive impairment). Doctors believe MCI is the first sign of Alzheimer’s.
A Study,
In one study a group of MCI patients worked out with 45 minutes of aerobic exercise by biking or using a treadmill.
- They did this four days a week.
- Another group used stretching and balancing exercises for the same amount of time.
- Those in the aerobic exercise group gained in mental agility.
- The other group continued to decline in their performance on mental tests.
- No medication or supplement has shown that kind of change in the effects of MCI.
- This is why diabetic Alzheimer’s and exercise are a hot topic right now.
Exercise is Key in Alzheimer’s & Diabetes:
Mice that were bred to have a high chance of developing Alzheimer’s are proving the link. Active mice had half the number of brain plaques as their sedentary brothers. Other human trials are showing benefit from all kinds of activities. That means gardening, housework and other things that keep you physically active will slow the decline into Alzheimer dementia.
Exercise:
Since exercise also improves the stability of blood sugar and insulin, you will also have fewer of the complications of type 2 diabetes in your heart, arteries, and brain. You will also lose weight and keep it off.
Diabetes, Alzheimer’s and exercise – the link is proven. So we have more incentive than ever to put physical activity at the top of our to-do list. Bike, swim, dance, walk, do whatever you enjoy, and keep doing it.
If chronic pain is keeping you from being active, there are some things you can do about that, too. There is even a list of foods that will help fight chronic pain. Stay active, and if you are not doing anything right now, it’s not too late to start.
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Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”
To read more about Alzheimer’s disease and Diabetes, and other healthy topics to improve your lifestyle, We invite you to visit our website and learn more about Alzheimer’s disease & type 2 diabetes, its complications and how you can deal with them, as well as great tips for eating healthy that will make living with diabetes less painful, Please Click Here
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