Living well with dementia: a framework for programs by Bob Laventure, MEd, and Claudine Aherne, MA

The role of physical activity in the prevention of dementia has been previously outlined in the Journal on Active Aging®. In his 2005 article on strategies for keeping the brain healthy, neurologist William Rodman Shankle, MD, cited a study showing that regular exercise reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias by about 50%. Our understanding is also increasing about the links between regular physical activity, the prevention of dementia and related risk factors. However, less is known about the potential of physical activity and exercise to impact upon the lives of people with dementia.