John Nagy, 96, keeps up a workout routine that includes walking and resistance training, which could be part of anyone’s personal “get active” tool kit.
Such regular physical activity can help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
A new tool kit, launched June 17, 2014, at McMaster University, offers evidence-based exercise guidance for people at risk.
The tool kit, aimed primarily at older adults, offers straightforward advice on staying active to reduce the risk of developing dementia, and maintaining the quality of life for those who already have Alzheimer’s.
The tool kit offers numerous tips under these categories:
- Move every day
- Enjoy aerobic activity
- Strengthen your muscles and bones
- Enhance your balance
The key message:
It’s not too late to start. Begin with what is comfortable for you. Then add a few minutes or additional activities when you feel ready.
Information in the kit is based on evidence gathered through research, explained Kathleen Martin-Ginis, director of the Physical Activity Centre of Excellence, an exercise research and training centre that offers specialized equipment and training for adults in the at-risk group.
Nagy participates in the McMaster Senior Exercise and Wellness Program.
The tool kit is offered by the Ontario Brain Institute, whose president and scientific director Dr. Donald Stuss spoke at the launch, as did Mary Burnett, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Hamilton and Halton, together with participants who have benefited from following regimes described in the tool kit.
The tool kit is available at the Ontario Brain Institute’s website.