Exercise plays a crucial role in combating dementia, helping to prevent its onset and keeping your mind sharp. Consistent research has shown that people who keep their bodies moving are at lower risk for brain issues like depression and dementia. While aerobic exercises are more commonly recommended by physicians, research shows that we need to look more closely at weightlifting for our brain health.
Studied benefits have consistently demonstrated that:
- People who regularly lift weights are found to have better cognitive health.
- Brain function can be improved in healthy people who begin a weightlifting routine, and this benefit is more pronounced in the elderly population.
- Those with cognitive decline experience improvement after starting a regular resistance training program.
- Weightlifting has been shown to decrease depressive symptoms.
Why weight training? Researchers at Brown University have shown that as we age, and especially in people with Alzheimer’s disease, there is a drop off in the brain’s ability to access and use glucose. A recent Mendelian analysis found that having a higher fasting blood sugar was associated with a higher risk for Alzheimer’s. Resistance training and blood sugar balance are related in the following ways:
- A single session of resistance training lowers glucose and insulin levels.
- Resistance training lowers 3-month blood sugar (HbA1c).
- Resistance training improves insulin sensitivity in the elderly.