Exercise offers many benefits to a person with dementia. Regular exercise can improve blood flow to the brain, meaning the person may have clearer memories of certain events and be more alert. Exercise also releases endorphins – feelgood hormones that create feelings of pleasure – which means it can also help to improve the person’s mood and alleviate the risk of depression.
Regular exercise can also lead to better sleep and encourage the person with dementia to have more social contact with others, either through walking or exercise classes. If the person is having sleep problems <link to sleep article>, it’s worth encouraging them to be more physically active if possible as lack of activity during the day may be the cause.
What is the best type of exercise for dementia?
It depends on the person and their exercise history. If the person is already active, then supporting them to keep doing their favourite form of exercise is a good idea, provided their no medical reason why they shouldn’t continue. They may already be a keen runner for instance, and want to continue doing what brings them pleasure.
Other forms of more gentle exercise include housework, dog walking, walking up and down stairs and armchair squats – which means standing up slowly and sitting down again. The main thing is to avoid long periods of inactivity.
According to Alzheimer’s Society, Tai chi can also be beneficial, as it involves slow and simple movements to improve balance and strength, along with yoga and Pilates, which will also improve overall strength.
If the person can’t stand or move around very easily, Alzheimer’s Society recommends some seated exercises, as follows:
Marching with the feet
Raising the arms overhead
Cycling with the legs
Raising the arms out to the side and then moving them in small circles
It’s important to understand that any movement will be beneficial. Walking, dancing or gardening will benefit the person if they enjoy these activities. Indoor bowls or skittles can also be a good idea as they use balance and hand-eye coordination, keeping the mind active as well as the body.
If the person likes walking or dancing but is finding it difficult to stand for long periods, there may be a local seated dance class or an armchair workout class. Anything that encourages movement and brings pleasure and enjoyment is a good thing.
The British Gymnastic Foundation has a dementia-friendly seated gymnastics programme: https://britishgymnasticsfoundation.org/lovetomove/
Sources on exercise and dementia:
Prevention:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7037481/
Types of exercise:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily-living/exercise/types-ideas