Community Senior Centers and Health Clubs offer exercise groups especially designed for older individuals. These programs offer various levels of intensity and cater to a wide variety or interest. Before beginning a physical activity routine, consult the Primary Care Physician.

Current research shows that physical exercise reduces memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease. 23,24,25 In fact, just engaging in physical exercise on a regular schedule

• improves memory and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 50 percent.. 26

A rigorous level of physical activity is found to

• reduce memory loss as associated with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in women by 60 percent as compared to women with no exercise. 27

Health Clubs offer rigorous activities programs such as,

• high impact Yoga
• spinning (bicycling)
• step aerobics

Low impact activities are more likely to be incorporated into the aging lifestyle. Studies show that moderate activities slow memory loss related to Alzheimer’s disease. 28 These low impact activities may include:

• walking
• low impact Yoga
• water aerobics

To underscore the significance of life long physical activity and cognitive health, studies show that individuals with higher levels physical activity at baseline are less likely to demonstrate dementia later in life. 29