Mental stimulation has 'positive effect' on people with dementia

Mental stimulation is an important part of combating dementia, a health expert has said, along with regular exercise.

Professor June Andrews, director of the Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Stirling, was commenting on research from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) that suggested walking may slow cognitive decline in adults.

"Your brain is dependent on oxygen, and if it is already struggling because of Alzheimer's disease, then making sure that you have got a good blood supply to your brain with lots of oxygen in it is bound to be helpful," she commented.

Professor Andrews went on to say that walking also has the benefit of being a social experience that brings people together and gets them talking, which can help with mental stimulation.

The RNSA study revealed that walking five miles per week can protect the brain structure over ten years in people with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.

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