Movements & Benefits for Senior Citizens

The risk for serious physical and neurological diseases, significantly increases as one ages. Heart disease and dementia have become major concerns for elderly adults over 80, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.[1]

For a while researchers have known that regular exercise reduces the risk of heart disease in the elderly population, however, now new research also shows that that exercise is linked to a reduction in the risk for dementia. (In fact, according to new research heart disease and dementia are in fact closely intertwined.)[2]

According to a landmark study published in the Lancet, just one hour’s exercise a week can reduce the chance of Alzheimer’s disease by almost half.[3]

Several prospective studies (where large groups of people are followed up over time) have found that higher levels of physical exercise are associated with less cognitive decline in older people. Other studies have found that people who exercise experience a slower loss of brain tissue as they age.[4]

Western culture expects older people to decline and grow more stationary, rather than keep mobile and exercise regularly. Evidence suggests that only a small number of people aged over 65 - fewer than 20% - engage in an adequate level of physical activity, while people who have dementia are even less likely to engage in such activity.[5] The brain learns and changes throughout our lives and exercise is directly related to the formation of new neural pathways and neural regeneration. This is especially important for elderly people who are at a much higher risk for disease.[6]

According to Alzheimer’s Australia, physical exercise is essential for maintaining good blood flow to the brain and may encourage new brain cell growth and survival.[7] Guidelines published by the Australian Department of Health give the following physical activity recommendations for adults and older adults 65 and over:

· Be active every day in as many ways as you can

· Think of movement as an opportunity, not an inconvenience

· Incorporate movement and activity into your normal daily routine

· Be active with a friend or family member

· Choose activities you enjoy

· If you can, enjoy regular vigorous exercise for extra health and fitness[8]

4Mind has a program specifically formulated for the elderly population to meet the above criteria. It has created an enjoyable program of safe movements and exercises that have been specifically designed to benefit both the brain and body of elderly participants.

4Mind programs can be conducted one on one or in groups, and give older people the ability to develop confidence in their movements and move with more ease and comfort. This in turn gives them more incentive to participate in further physical activities and exercise, leading to even further benefits.

4Mind helps older people to become more present in their bodies and develop a stronger sense of where they are in space. Additionally, it challenges the body and brain simultaneously with movements that stimulate the visual, auditory and kinaesthetic senses at the same time.[9]

Some key everyday issues for the elderly population are mobility, independence and cognitive decline. 4Mind addresses these 3 areas and give seniors increased confidence for staying mobile and independent.

Falls are also one of the major causes of injury and death in the elderly population. Karen Peterson, Educational Kinesiologist and the author of Move with Balance: Healthy Aging Activities for Brain & Body, runs specific programs in the U.S, based on similar concepts to 4Mind, to help prevent falls in senior citizens. Her program, Giving Back, Fall Prevention, has shown significant positive results in standing, posture while walking, attention span, and mental acuity of senior citizens.[10]

[1](American College of Cardiology, 2016) [2](B Ng Justin, 2013). [3](Donnelly, 2014) [4](Fight Dementia, 2015) [5](Fight Dementia, 2015) [6] (Peterson, 2013) [7] (Fight Dementia, 2015) [8](Fight Dementia, 2015) [9](Peterson, 2013) [10](Peterson, 2013)