Midlife Cardiovascular Fitness and Dementia
Cardiovascular fitness is an activity that is necessary to prevent disease later in life. This includes neurological disorders like dementia that wreak havoc on normal ways of life. It takes one long walk each day to maintain good health; however, millions of people never find enough time to exercise regularly. So, the rates of cardiovascular diseases and brain disorders like dementia will remain high. Learn more about how cardiovascular exercise is connected to good brain health.
Neurological Problems in Middle-aged People
Middle-aged individuals in their 50s, 60s and older are more likely to suffer from neurological diseases than younger individuals, according to numerous medical studies. The rates of development vary from 5% to 55% in older people. These diseases are linked to increased rates of mental illness, hospitalization and mortality.
The most common neurological disorders among elderly populations are dementia, Parkinson’s disease and polyneuropathy. In all diseases, there is a severe malfunctioning of the brain that causes different symptoms, such as a malfunctioning of nerves and muscles that control the body’s movements.
Dementia includes Alzheimer’s disease that makes up the majority of cases. Millions of people are affected by dementia, and the risks of developing it increase with age. The symptoms include:
- Memory loss
- Lack of concentration
- Increased rates of stress and uncontrollable emotions
- Depression and loss of interest in daily activities
Not every affected person has the same symptoms. There are different levels of the disorder from mild cognitive impairment to severe dementia. Mild impairment is marked by occasional memory loss like forgetting where the keys are or forgetting activities from a few days ago. Severe dementia occurs when the individual is unable to communicate or function on his or her own without assistance.
The causes of dementia vary based on the individual. These include:
- Brain tumor
- Brain injury
- Stroke
- Viral infection
In every type of dementia, the brain suffers from increased rates of cell deaths. During a stroke or head injury, blood and oxygen are cut off to the brain, causing cells to die. Progressive brain death occurs rapidly and cause severe dementia or death within a few years.
Some disorders are reversible in spite of the severity. Taking brain-related medications, consuming enough nutrients, reducing stress and exercising regularly are actions that have positive effects on the brain.
The Positive Effects of Cardiovascular Exercise on Health
Good cardiovascular health is based mainly on a healthy diet and exercise. Other factors include a clean environment that is free of toxins and a life that is free of mental stress. However, exercise is the biggest factor that contributes to a healthy heart and cardiovascular system.
The cardiovascular system is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood throughout the body. The blood must circulate on a timed schedule, so your brain and other organs must receive blood at the right times and at the right pressures. An unhealthy circulatory system does not deliver enough oxygen to your cells, which causes you to feel tired all the time. Over time, you start to develop cardiovascular problems that lead to strokes or heart attacks.
Exercise helps to improve the speed and strength of your cardiovascular system. Exercise helps to strengthen your heart, allowing it to work harder, pump blood faster and provide more oxygen to your body. The heart muscle is stronger and the organ has a much longer lifespan.
Aerobic exercise reduces the development of many other diseases like obesity, diabetes and cancer. It also helps to control your blood pressure and heart rates. Too much pressure causes your heart to work harder than necessary and break down more easily.
Weightlifting does not provide the same benefits. Lifting weights is effective at strengthening the muscles, but it does not directly benefit the heart and blood circulation.
Cardiovascular fitness includes walking and jogging. Older people can choose one activity or the other to remain healthy. Swimming, dancing, skiing and hiking are other useful exercises.
Regular exercise is recommended to maintain good results. Create a fitness routine that fits your schedule and physical abilities. It takes only an hour every day to exercise. Too little is ineffective, and too much of it adds stress to your body.
The Link Between Dementia and Cardiovascular Exercise
Cardiovascular exercise has significant benefits on your brain and mind. The more often you exercise, the less likely you develop dementia later in life. Elderly people are encouraged to exercise for as long as they can to remain healthy.
Exercise works at pumping oxygenated blood to your brain, which is oxygen that your cells need to thrive. When you do it regularly, you provide a steady supply of oxygen that is needed for everyday activities. This is why when people stop exercising for a few days or weeks, they feel tired or suffer from headaches, pain and other health problems.
Doctors recommend exercise for people of all ages and say it’s the best preventative tool against dementia. Once dementia starts forming in the brain, it’s difficult or impossible to reverse all of the damages. It’s possible to restore some dead brain cells but not all of them.
People with mild or severe dementia are encouraged to exercise and see some of their symptoms disappear. It’s a myth that fitness only affects a person’s physical state. Your mental state improves, as well, so you improve your levels of memory, concentration and thinking.
Cardiovascular fitness is not the only recommended action for dementia patients. They should also practice mind games and exercises to stimulate their brain activity. Getting the right amount of nutrition is another recommendation for people with or without dementia. They should make sure that they are consuming enough vitamins and minerals.
Most people know it already, but being fit is helpful at preventing dementia. When you have a strong heart, you’re less likely to have a stroke or poor circulatory system that causes neurological disorders. Cardiovascular fitness includes walking, running, stepping and other activities that anyone can do. Following a regular fitness routine every day is recommended to stay healthy and ward off dementia.
