Movement and mental training can help – Heilpraxis

Dementia: mental and physical training for prevention

More and more people are getting sick dementia. Physical inactivity is a key risk factor for the early development of such a neurodegenerative disease. movement is of paramount importance for maintaining mental fitness. Also mental coaching is important to prevention dementia. A new study now shows how effective it is to exercise both body and mind.

Exercise and mental training can prevent dementia. The training is particularly effective when body and mind are challenged at the same time. This is the conclusion reached by researchers who compared the effects of combined and separate mental and physical training in people with possible early stage dementia. The results were published in the journal “Alzheimer’s Disease Journal“published.

Possible early stage of dementia

In the project “go4cognition” was reviewed by a research team led by Vanessa Lissek and Prof. Dr. Boris Suchan from the Clinical Neuropsychology Working Group at the Ruhr University in Bochum, together with colleagues from the BG Clinic in Duisburg, examined 39 people aged 65 to 85 with mild cognitive impairment.

“It’s a kind of intermediate state”explains Boris Suchan in a Message. “People are not limited in their daily activities, but can develop dementia as they progress.”

The tests show some cognitive changes in these individuals. The researchers diagnosed it Mild cognitive impairment with the so-called CERAD test and additional standard neuropsychological tests that record functions such as memory, executive functions, attention and concentration.

The scientists also collected motor functions such as hand strength and balance.

Train body and mind

The researchers then divided the participants into two groups: A group of 24 people trained body and mind at the same time in the professional association clinic in Duisburg with the so-called Speed ​​Court system.

It is a 5.5 by 5.5 meters wide mat system, which is equipped with sensors. Participants had to walk the mats as quickly as possible in a previously presented order.

The remaining 15 participants trained their body and mind separately at the Gute Hoffnung nursing home in Oberhausen. They followed the so-called Fitfor100 program, a physical training session balance exerciseswhich also strengthens the muscles.

During breaks, cognitive functions were tested Games stimulated. Both trainings lasted six weeks. Immediately after this period and three months later, the subjects performed the same cognitive and motor tests again as at the start of the study.

Improved cognitive performance

Statistical analysis showed that both interventions were equally effective against deficits that had been apparent in pre-training cognitive testing. According to the information improved About half of the participants improved their cognitive performance from the training to such an extent that the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment no longer applied to them after the training.

This positive effects were still present in the tests three months after the intervention, although the subjects did not receive any additional training during this period.

In addition, the participants achieved better results in the physical parameters after the training manual force and balance.

Preventing cognitive impairment in the elderly

In the “go4cognition” project, specialists from various institutions are developing a new tool for cognitive disorders prevent in old age.

“Technical options such as the SpeedCourt help make training even more focused”explains Boris Suchan. “It also helps if you train in a group. This leads to very good results and increases acceptance. (ad)