Each morning our alarm rings to let us know it is time to go to our daily water aerobics class.  Once I am in the pool and working out, I am fine; however, getting up and making that effort is a challenge.  The one thing that motivates me is that I know, deep down, that this daily exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle.

This was confirmed to me when I read of a study of more than 1,600 adults aged 65 and older, those who led a sedentary life seemed to have the same risk of developing dementia as those who carried the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene mutation, which increases the chances of developing dementia.  “Being inactive may completely negate the protective effects of a healthy set of genes,” said lead researcher Jennifer Heisz, an assistant professor in the department of kinesiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

This only reinforced my resolve to exercise each day.  In researching further I found that according to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, regular physical exercise can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by up to 50 percent. What’s more, exercise can also slow further deterioration in those who have already started to develop cognitive problems.  Pretty impressive!  I was happy to read that swimming is encouraged as part of this….. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week. The ideal plan involves a combination of cardio exercise and strength training. Good activities for beginners include walking and swimming.

Have you had your BMI  checked recently?  A new study led by researchers at University College London shows that people with a higher body mass index (BMI) in midlife are more likely to develop dementia. The findings, based on data from 39 studies of long-term health, were published this in the scientific journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia.    For a great calculator in finding what your own BMI is, go here

About 47.5 million people around the world are living with dementia, the researchers said, and that number is expected to surge to 115 million by 2050.  By exploring, identifying and actually changing lifestyle factors that can reduce dementia risk, perhaps we can make headway with this debilitating disease.

If you are interested in a program to help you get a jump start on weight loss and resist those cravings (particularly with the holidays coming up) consider a 7 Day Healthy Cleanse.   Our first cleanse will take place the week after Thanksgiving – a great time to make some commitments.  Contact me for more information on how you can get your “Healthy Cleanse Kit” for free.  I hope you will join me in this exciting healthy lifestyle tool!

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