4. Exercise
It’s no surprise that exercise is good for you. But these positives extend beyond keeping your legs and lungs strong. Numerous studies have shown that people who regularly exercise are less likely to develop dementia. Exercise may in fact be the most impactful lifestyle choice you can make to reduce your risk of dementia, even if it isn’t widely advertised as such.
Of course, the type of person who exercises regularly can be different in other important ways relevant to dementia. They might eat healthier food in general, or simply have more resources and free time, which then allows them to exercise in the first place. But exercise does seem to inherently improve our brain’s health. Among other things, exercise can boost our cardiovascular health and circulation, which can reduce dementia risk directly and indirectly by preventing strokes. It also appears to help slow down the shrinking of the brain as we age. And even people with mild cognitive impairment seem to benefit from exercise.
Any amount of regular exercise helps your health, though aerobic exercise seems to be best, and you can see the benefits no matter how old you are when you first start.
