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Lafayette Journal and Courier Exercising also helps your brain, study says Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Roman writer Juvenal cited the eternal ideal: "A sound mind in a sound body." A scientific study released last week shows that for the elderly, physical and mental health often go hand in hand. Those who exercised three or more times weekly were less likely to develop Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia than those who didn't. "Exercise motivates the brain," says Dave Hubbard, 83, of Lafayette, as he works his arms and legs on a Nu Step machine in the fitness room at Hanna Community Center, 1201 N. 18th St. "When I exercise, I feel more ambitious. My mind works better." Hubbard's mother-in-law had Alzheimer's. "I have sympathy for anyone who has it, and anyone who takes care of them," says Hubbard, who works out most days. The research found that healthy people aged 65 and older who exercised regularly reduced their risk of dementia by 30 to 40 percent. The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and reported by the Associated Press. Researchers found that even light activity, such as walking, was effective. They reached no conclusions about whether certain forms of exercise were more beneficial. Through activity, "It seems like we are delaying onset (of dementia)," said Dr. Wayne McCormick, a University of Washington geriatrician who co-authored the study. Between 1994 and 2004, researchers tracked 1,740 people aged 65 and older who showed no signs of dementia. Their health was evaluated every two years for six years. Of the 1,185 members of the original pool who were later found to be free of dementia, 77 percent reported exercising three or more times a week. Of 158 people who showed signs of dementia, only 67 percent said they exercised that much. The rest died or withdrew from the study. Some researchers theorize that physical activity might reduce levels of amyloid, a sticky protein that clogs the brains of people with Alzheimer's. Marie Brooks, 75, of Lafayette, is also a regular in Hanna Center's exercise room, which is for people aged 50 and older. She golfs, too, and exercises at home. "I'm from a large family, all active, with no experience with dementia," she says. "Exercise just makes you so much sharper and more alert." Lafayette's Sandy Laing, 58, assists those who use the Hanna fitness room. "I'm a real believer in exercise. I feel more stimulated and able to think after I exercise. My thoughts are more directed," she says. "Some people are concerned only about how many calories they can burn, but they don't think so much about how much better they feel afterwards," Laing says. "Exercise gets the blood flowing, and in my mind, when you have better circulation you are removing more of the things that aren't good for you." Dementia is not fully understood, says Cody Sipe, director of the Ismail Center for Health, Exercise and Nutrition, an adult fitness center at Purdue University. "The brain is an organ, and when you look at all the amazing benefits of exercise on our other body systems, like the cardiovascular system, it makes sense that the same would hold true for the brain," he says. He often speaks with elderly people, and finds that many worry about dementia. Some say, "Take away my body but don't take away my mind," Sipe says. Studies show that most seniors value quality of life over longevity. They wouldn't want to live to extreme old age if they would have to deal with serious disabilities. But Sipe notes that many people risk heart disease rather than exercise and eat a proper diet. "How many have a known risk of heart attack and still don't exercise?" he says. "I would hope this (research) would stimulate a lot more people to become active physically, but I can't say how many."
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