Exercise as it relates to Disease/teaching resource/technic

This is an analysis of the journal article "A Prospective Examination of the Relationship between Physical Activity and Dementia Risk in Later Life" by Bowen M. E PhD (2012)

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Background to the Research

Dementia

Dementia can be defined as not one specific disease, but a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain. Dementia as a whole is characterized by a decline in the brains ability to retain memory, loss of spatial and social skills, brain cognition, language and judgement. Some common forms of dementia are Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Dementia in itself is not a natural process of aging, although the effects of it are more common with increasing age. Dementia is highly prevalent in Australia, and in 2015 it was found that over 340,000 people were diagnosed with the disease, with numbers expecting to rise to around 900,000 by 2050.

Emerging evidence shows that being physically active could improve cerebral perfusion and increase neurogenesis, which would reduce the risk of developing dementia. Many studies generally propose that participation in physical activity throughout life can promote physiological health, maintain and/or improve cardiovascular health, and most significant in relation to the onset of dementia; prevent or slow down cognitive decline and the development of the many symptoms associated.

The Current Study

Where is the Research from?

This community based study was conducted at the Research Center of Excellence at the James A. Haley Hospital in Tampa Florida in July/August 2012.

What kind of research was this?

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between vigorous physical activity and dementia risk. The subjects used were community based from that region. The demographic of the individuals tested were aged 71 and over, with 3–7 years of physical activity prior to dementia/no dementia diagnosis.

What did the research involve?

The participants had their physical activity levels measured across an array of leisure activities such as swimming, aerobics, running, housework, and bicycling. Neuropsychological tests were then carried out by an expert panel (consisting of neuropsychologists, neurologists and geropsychiatrists) to determine the presence of dementia. Demographic characteristics were also recorded such as lifestyle habits, health indicators and health conditions existing prior to the study.