Photo: Jay Willet/WBZ NewsRadio
WALPOLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health offers a way to potentially lower the risk of dementia.
The study showed that engaging in at least 5 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day could lead to lower chances of the disease.
With this minimum amount of exercise, researchers saw a 41% decreased risk of dementia within the study's parameters and subjects.
The study also showed that the amount of exercise done every day also raises that percentage significantly, with 20 minutes lowering risks by 69%.
Director of the Walpole Council on Aging Kerri McManama was particularly excited about the results of this study.
“This study is so exciting, just to think a small amount of exercise could make a difference in you potentially having to manage dementia, that's astounding,” Kerri said. “We definitely see that the people who participate in fitness long-term do better. It’s a huge study.”
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She said how the study was great for those who are maybe intimidated by exercise, as now they can see that even doing a little bit every day can have meaningful impact.
“I think it can make an impactful difference on us ‘selling fitness’ to our seniors,” Kerri said. “They can say ‘well, I can do five minutes a day that doesn't sound hard.’”
Walpole's Council on Aging has numerous programs that help the elderly engage in physical fitness.
“We have 20 different unique fitness programs from sitting exercise all the way to aerobic Zumba classes, pilates, all different levels of exercise and activity,” McManama said.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Chris Fama (CFamaWBZ) reports.