The four swimmers (aged 86, 89, 92 and 93) who are the subjects of the inspiring video below broke a world record in a 200-meter freestyle relay in which they each swam 50 meters. If that isn’t inspiration enough, one of the two women on the team was unable to attend the previous year’s event because she was recovering from a broken neck at the time. Asked what kept her going, she responded: “Swimming!”
If you think this post has nothing to do with dementia, you’d be wrong. Exercise and attitude are important factors in staying healthy as we age, particularly with respect to boosting brain power. Here’s what Canada’s ParticipACTION program says:
“Physical activity is protective against the onset of dementia and slows its progression. The deterioration of the brain’s prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, which play important roles in complex thinking and memory formation, is usually associated with dementia. Luckily, these two areas are very responsive to physical activity, and tend to be bigger in size among people with higher fitness levels. This means that by constantly stimulating your brain through physical activity, you can effectively extend your years of good mental health.”
It’s equally important for people who live with dementia to stay physically active and to engage with life for as long as they possibly can. Here are 101 activities you can do with your dementia care partner. Activate!
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My Alzheimer's Story 
Watapowpow!
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Yep 🙂
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