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Lifting weights has shown promising results in slowing down and potentially slowing down the decline of brain regions that are highly susceptible to Alzheimer's disease over an extended period.
Research shows that strength training for just six months can protect certain areas of your brain from Alzheimer's disease. And the best part is, this protection can last for up to a whole year!
So what is strength training?
This doesn't necessarily mean you need to join a gym and start a strict, regimental workout routine, this is something that can be easily performed at your care home with minimal time and equipment.
Strength training involves contracting muscles to allow muscles to grow stronger and more efficient over time, this can be done with dumbbells, resistance bands and in some cases your own body weight. 100 participants in a particular study engaged in supervised strength training for a mere 90 minutes per week, spread across two or three sessions, this was enough to show results when assessments were followed up 18 months later.
Other Benefits
Alongside Alzheimer's, there are many known and proven benefits with strength training in later years, this can include (but is not limted to)
Overall mental cognition
Reduced joint pain
Increased mobility and range of motion
Better quality of life and sense of well-being
Increased confidence and independence
How to get started
It is important to start small and work with the limitations and current fitness of the resident. Guided exercise is the best way for this, and will not only reduce the risks significantly but also speed up results.
You can learn more about how we can help with introducing your residents to strength training here, if you are unsure if this is for you then feel free to contact us for a free trial session.
Take Away
It's amazing how something as simple as strength training can have such a positive impact on our overall health. So why not give it a try and give your brain a little extra assistance and protection? You'll be glad you did!