Can Pilates Help Prevent Dementia?
Feb 06, 2022
If you are a regular reader of my blog you will already know that one of the features I love most about the Pilates method is the mind-body connection. I'm currently reading Sanjay Gupta's fascinating book "Keep Sharp" which provides practical information about how our brains work and how we can prevent cognitive decline as we age. The chapter entitled "The Miracle of Movement" is particularly exciting as Gupta, a neurosurgeon, says that exercise is the single most important thing you can do to enhance your brain's function and resilience. That's great news for Pilates lovers and future Pilates lovers, so lets delve a little more deeply in how this actually works.
What is Dementia?
Receiving a diagnosis of dementia is heartbreaking for the patient, but equally so for family and friends. Having to watch the gradual mental decline of their loved one who eventually may not even recognise them is tragic. According to Dementia Australia the term dementia "is used to describe a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain. It is not one specific disease. Dementia affects thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Brain function is affected enough to interfere with the person's normal social or working life." It usually comes on gradually beginning with symptoms such as memory loss, confusion and personality change and continues to decline making it difficult for sufferers to perform everyday tasks. There is no cure but some medications can help to reduce symptoms. Some of the different types of dementia include Alzheimer's Disease, Huntington's Disease and Vascular dementia among others for example. Sometimes other conditions that may have similar symptoms can be mistaken for dementia such as delirium, depression or nutritional deficiencies so it's important to ensure you have an accurate diagnosis.
How Does Exercise Improve Our Brain Function?
Even though I already know that practicing Pilates provides amazing benefits for our brains, it's always great to read the latest research and learn about the new discoveries as they are made that confirms this. I know myself that I feel much sharper and more mentally focused after a Pilates workout or challenging walk than I do after sitting still for a long period of time. Humans were designed to be constantly moving, not sitting or lying down for the bulk of the day. We had to move to stay alive whether it was for physically finding and preparing food, searching for water or running from or fighting a predator, we were constantly on the move, it's in our DNA. Exercise helps to regulate our blood sugar as fluctuations in blood sugar have been associated with increasing the risk of developing dementia. It also reduces stress levels and inflammation which can also contribute to dementia. Exercise promotes "neurogenesis" which is the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain.. The good news is that thanks to neurogenesis, age is no barrier and new neurons can be formed in a healthy brain right up until the end of life and Pilates and other forms of exercise are ideal for this. While it is still unknown whether exercise can reverse dementia once the brain has significantly begun to deteriorate, there is sufficient evidence to prove that it can prevent dementia. Ensuring you have a regular PIlates and exercise program scheduled should be a high priority if you wan to maintain a healthy brain as you age.
Pilates - Perfect for Maintaining a Healthy Brain
Joseph Pilates described his unique method of exercise as being as much of a mental workout as it is physical and this combined with a conscious breathing pattern makes Pilates ideal for building a better brain. JS Mind Body Pilates, my online Pilates studio provides many opportunities to challenge your co-ordination, memory, balance and proprioception as you move through the sequences and workouts. My unique Pilates program is designed to assist you in recovering from pain or injury and at the same time you will also be boosting your brain health by encouraging the formation of new neurons. This is a very exciting but also empowering concept to be able to take control of your own health and fitness in this way. Sanjay Gupta talks about "surprising" the body with new movements and ways of moving to further stimulate the brain. My online studio provides a large variety of videos and with the addition of 2 new videos per month your brain and body are constantly being challenged in new directions. Members have the opportunity of participating in 3 challenges per year where they set a goal for the challenge. A popular goal is to try new videos and discover new combinations of movement and this always produces great results. Not surprisingly, they feel fabulous at the end of the challenge, like they could take on the world!
If you are ready to join my unique online Pilates community and future-proof your brain against dementia, click HERE to read about what options I have to offer you. Alternatively, email me at info@jsmindbodypilates - I'd love to help you get started on your Pilates journey and assist you to boost your brain health too!
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Learn more about what sort of people benefit from Pilates and how it can help you too. I separate the myths from the facts and share actual case studies of my clients who have achieved life-changing results from my unique Pilates program.
