As you age, some memory loss can’t be avoided. You forget the name of your friend’s child, you misplace a document, or you can’t remember what you did last Saturday night. Those things happen…to everyone; however, there’s a type of memory loss that’s much more severe. It’s called Alzheimer’s. My grandpa suffered from this horrible illness, and it’s devastating effects on his mind will haunt me for the rest of my life.
There is some good news, though. A man can do several things to prevent the onset of this disease, including keeping the mind active and eating a balanced diet. Another preventative measure? Exercise!
I found interesting information on the Everyday Health website concerning Alzheimer’s and exercise. Apparently, you can lessen your risk for becoming a victim by keeping active. This site specifically states, “Heart health = brain health. The brain depends heavily on its blood supply, and the health of the brain is closely linked to the overall health of the heart and blood vessels. By managing heart disease risk factors like high cholesterol,high blood pressure, and weight, a man may reduce or delay his chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”
This statement translated into simpler terms means – keep the blood flowing to your brain by keeping trim and by exercising – then you will be able to think clearly. As our forefather’s knew, a man that continues to be active will live a longer and more productive life. Benjamin Franklin even said, “use now and then a little exercise a quarter of an hour before meals, as swing a weight, or swing your arms about with a small weight in each hand; to leap, or the like, for that stirs the muscles of the breast.” That may sound antiquated, but the message is there…get moving and keep moving!
Now that you know the connection between brain power and exercise, I hope I’ve convinced you to continue or even adopt an exercise program. It’s up to you how you want to proceed. Maybe you will choose to jog, bike, run, or play tennis. It doesn’t matter which you choose, as long as your heart has to work hard for a sustained period of time. Add a weight lifting routine, and you should be well on your way to preventing Alzheimer’s from affecting you.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. It makes it hard for people to think, remember, and reason. And it strikes a lot of Americans. As stated on the Everyday Health website, about 5.2 million Americans were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2008, and of those, 5 million were 65 or older.
During Men’s Health Month, I urge you to take exercise seriously. If you haven’t exercised in a while, check with your doctor before beginning any strenuous activity; however, take this opportunity to not only look better, but to help keep your memory intact for your entire life.
It’s too late for my grandpa, but it’s not too late for you!
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