Fun, Facts & Fitness from Mary Morris MSc.
I remember many years ago trying to fit my iron into the fridge, even to the point of moving food out of the way to get it in! Now I know what you are thinking, and of course I was thinking it too – a case of early onset dementia! But apparently most of us experience these sorts of weird events, not because we are demented but simply because our mind is elsewhere. It is called 'attention blindness' and is nothing to worry about.
We know we need to go upstairs for something and set off to get it, but then we think of something else en-route so our attention has been diverted. End result... standing at the top of the stairs wondering what on earth it was we wanted. The good news, of course, is that if we go up and down stairs a couple of times with this dilemma then we have at least raised our heart rate, strengthened our leg muscles, done extra steps and also actually helped to offset the risk of dementia! And there lies the most important message... physical activity and exercise are a great way to reduce our risk of dementia.
How Much Exercise?
Every week we recommend those 30+ minute daily walks and that really is enough to do the job of reducing your risk. As Rosemary has already mentioned, the blood flow to the brain is vital in keeping our brain fuelled for all those processes necessary to keep our thinking, reasoning and learning skills sharp and active. But that's not all... by staying active we increase the production of the chemicals that protect the brain by keeping those all-important connections 'connected'! Let me explain.
These connections can be lost through the build-up of proteins in the brain which accumulate into tangled structures called 'plaques'. These disrupt communication between the nerve cells, eventually killing the cells entirely. Exercising regularly will help to keep these connections in place and, although it is true that many of us will experience some level of dementia as we age, we can seriously offset its rate of progress by leading a physically and socially active life.
Most Common Types of Dementia
You will be shocked to know (as I was) that there are over 200 different types of dementia and, of course, some are more common than others. It must make a diagnosis extremely difficult for the medical profession. The most common types are:
- Alzheimer's
This type of dementia accounts for around 60% of all cases and is a build-up of protein in the brain that affects how the brain cells transmit messages. How old we are is the biggest risk factor with 1 in 14 over 65s and 1 in 6 over 80s experiencing the condition.
- Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is caused by a problem with the blood supply to the brain due to damaged or diseased blood vessels. When the brain is deprived of oxygen and nutrients there will be a problem with concentration, thinking and everyday activities.
- Lewy Body Dementia
This type affects around 10-15% of all cases. Clumps of protein (called Lewy bodies) gather inside brain cells mainly affecting movement and motor control. This affects walking, dressing and the use of cutlery.
- Frontal temporal Dementia
This is an umbrella term for a group of dementias that mainly affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain responsible for thought, movement and regulating sleep and alertness. There is an abnormal build-up of protein in the brain that damages the cells and may have a genetic link.
Be Socially Fit
'Social Fitness' is the new expression in the health and fitness industry, particularly since we are now so concerned about our mental health. Covid showed us quite clearly the need to be with others and to communicate on a regular basis with those outside of our family unit. On my group walks every week, I always say it is not the walk itself that is at the top of the list of benefits but the fact we are all getting together on a regular basis. The thrill of hearing everyone around me, all laughing and joking, sharing experiences and supporting each other is the most important thing. This sort of social interaction with like-minded people is the cornerstone of slowing the progress of diseases like dementia.
Music and Memory
I love exercising to music, and dancing in one form or another has greatly influenced my life. Now, with my group exercise classes, because we are all of a certain age, I use music that brings back memories and always try to include a track that we can all sing along to. Finding a group exercise class that suits you in this way can be a real tonic. Also learning a new skill such as playing a musical instrument is proven to keep those brain cells working well.
There is a real body of evidence that shows that music can significantly improve the lives of those already living with dementia. A researcher from the University of Warwick has found that music maintains a kind of strength in the brain, vital in bringing back memories that help people to reminisce about their past. My Auntie Kathleen suffered the most debilitating Alzheimer's but right to the end, she remembered every word of those wonderful war-time songs and sang them very robustly with a huge smile on her face!
Exercise Every Day
Exercising every day will keep your thinking, reasoning and learning skills sharp as well as:
- Improving your memory.
- Delaying the start of dementia and slowing the progress if you are particularly at risk.
- Increasing the size of the part of the brain associated with memory formation, reducing forgetfulness.
- Keeping you socially fit - if you exercise in a group!
So, on a final note, physically active people can reduce their risk of getting dementia by 30 - 50% and those who are socially active can reduce their risk by a massive 82%.
In short, have a healthy heart, stay sharp and keep connected with lots of lovely people… then you won't go far wrong!
She first took the role for a few weeks in 1966 but left when fellow cast member Pat Phoenix (who played firebrand Elsie Tanner) advised her to get some more lessons in acting! She left the show and joined the Oldham Repertory Theatre before returning in 1970 and remaining in the series for the next 25 years. She quit Coronation Street in 1995, shortly after winning the Lifetime Achievement Award for her role as Bet Lynch in the first-ever National Television Awards.
