Brain Health Benefits from Exercise
As a strength coach who has been working in the fitness industry for close to a decade, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about the benefits of physical activity. Increased strength, more efficient cardiovascular endurance, improved mobility, mental health, and a building up of confidence, are all areas I have spent a great deal of time thinking about. This class has started to add, brain health to the list; specifically how exercise can help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is what took my grandmother at the end of her life. It was an extremely frustrating and difficult situation to watch her go through. Watching my father be so patient while experiencing the sadness, frustration, and difficulty of taking care of her was also very hard. My fear is that my father will experience Alzheimer’s as well. He is often forgetful or doesn’t remember a story, where he put his keys, etc. While this isn’t necessarily an automatic indicator for dementia or Alzheimer’s, it is a reminder of a fear that they are a possibility in the future.
Recently, my dad and I have started a workout routine where I train him over zoom. My main reasons I wanted to start a routine with him were for his cardiovascular health, his strength, mobility, and avoiding injuries. This week’s topic of physical activity and brain health has also made me more focused on his brain health through exercise as well. In the Erickson et. Al epidemiological research, increasing activity level decreased the chances for dementia by 28% and Alzheimer’s by 45%. This makes me happy to know the work we are doing together is potentially helping ward off not only his heart issues but Alzheimer’s and dementia as well!
One promising point made by Erickson et al, is that no matter the age someone started their physical activity routine, their neurological brain health was still improved. While starting a physical fitness routine earlier could have a higher potential for protecting your brain, starting later in life, was still extremely helpful. This is very reassuring as my father is in his 60s. He has always participated in some kind of activity whether it be house work, gardening, playing volleyball or softball. My goal for him is to bolster this routine by adding in strength training that will continue to help build his physical strength, mental strength, and brain health.
Erickson et al and Groot et al’s articles have made me thankful that I started sports as a young child and started a workout routine from the time I was fourteen. My goal is always to maintain consistency over intensity so that I can create long lasting results and benefits for my brain, mental, and physical health. Avoiding Alzheimer’s will be another motivation to maintain my various sports, strength workouts and other diverse physical activities.
One of the fascinating points made by Groot et al, is the factor of how much time performing physical fitness is necessary for receiving brain health benefits. I was extremely happy to hear that as low as 40-45 minute per week still create a substantial benefit in brain health! For someone like my dad who is busy, who doesn’t necessarily feel like they have a ton of extra time to work out, or just doesn’t want to spend tons of time doing a workout, it is reassuring to hear that even smaller pieces of time spent in physical activity is beneficial to brain health.
Exercise is routinely only thought about for its physical output and how it can change the way someone looks.My goal as a coach, is to show and teach others how exercise is beneficial beyond physical appearance.Erickson et. Al and Groot et. Al’s articles have shown me that my job as a coach not only helps to improve people mental health but their neurological health as well! I am very happy that I can use this information to help my health, the health of my family and the health of others as well.
