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SPS3111: Physical Activity and Health

Mental Health

Definition and Impact

  • Defining Mental Health

  • Examine how depression affects health and well-being.

  • Review community-level interventions that aim to:

    • Increase physical activity levels

    • Reduce sedentary behaviour, especially in individuals with depression.

  • Review Lecture 10 on Physical activity and Mental Health.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s

Overview and Definitions

  • Defining Dementia and Alzheimer’s

  • Investigate the impact of these conditions on health and well-being.

  • Analyze community interventions to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary behaviour.

  • Review Lecture 11 on Physical Activity and Dementia/Alzheimer's Disease.

Understanding Dementia

  • Dementia: A collection of symptoms caused by various brain disorders and is not a single disease.

  • Impacts include:

    • Thinking

    • Behavior

    • Daily tasks execution

  • Characterized by cognitive deficits that interfere with social or work life.

  • Prevalence in Australia:

    • Over 413,106 Australians living with dementia, numbers projected to rise.

    • Second leading cause of death.

    • Expected cost of dementia will reach $18.7 billion by 2025 and $36.8 billion by 2056.

Cognitive Deficits

  • Key cognitive deficits include:

    • Impaired memory

    • Language disturbances

    • Difficulty performing motor activities

    • Recognition difficulties

    • Decline in executive functions (planning, organizing, sequencing).

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

Characteristics

  • AD: Most common form of dementia, an irreversible and progressive neurodegenerative disease.

  • Affects 3 out of 10 people over 85 and can affect individuals over 65 sporadically.

  • Risk: Early-Onset AD can occur before 65 years due to familial hereditary factors.

Genetic Factors

  • Familial AD is inherited due to genetic mutations affecting the following genes:

    • APP (Amyloid Precursor Protein) on chromosome 21

    • PSEN1 (Presenilin 1) on chromosome 14

    • PSEN2 (Presenilin 2) on chromosome 1

  • These mutations lead to beta-amyloid protein accumulation, a hallmark of Alzheimer's.

Brain Changes in Alzheimer’s

  • Affected Brain Regions:

    • Cerebral Cortex: Involved in language and thought, shrinks significantly.

    • Hippocampus: Critical for memory formation, shows marked shrinkage.

    • Results in larger ventricles filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

Distinguishing Dementia from Alzheimer’s

  • Dementia is a broad term referring to various symptoms, while Alzheimer's is a specific brain disease marked by progressive cognitive decline.

  • Symptoms include memory loss, changes in reasoning, judgment, attention, language, and behavior.

Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease

  • Established risk factors include:

    • Age

    • Genetic predispositions

    • Family history

    • Lifestyle factors like obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

    • Stress and depression also increase risk.

Stages and Management of Alzheimer’s Disease

Stages of AD

  • Seven Stages:

    1. No Impairment

    2. Very Mild Decline

    3. Mild Decline

    4. Moderate Decline

    5. Moderate Severe Decline

    6. Severe Decline

    7. Very Severe Decline

Management Strategies

  • No cure is available; prevention or delay can be targeted through:

    • Lifestyle changes

    • Physical activity

    • Cognitive stimulation

    • Social interaction

    • Evidence suggests physical activity can slow the disease's progression.

The Role of Physical Activity

Benefits of Exercise

  • Significant relationship between physical activity and improved cognitive function.

  • Research by Kramer and Colcombe (2006) indicates that aerobic training enhances executive function in older adults.

  • Meta-analysis shows higher activity levels correlate with reduced risk of cognitive decline (RR 0.65) and dementia (RR 0.86).

Mechanisms of Action

  • Exercise increases brain volume and neurogenesis (BDNF) which supports neuron survival and cognitive health.

  • Studies demonstrate how exercise can improve cognitive functions in animal models, with implications for human health.

  • Strong evidence linking physical activity to reduction in neurodegeneration and preserved cognitive function in various studies.

Types of Recommended Exercises

For Early to Middle Stages of Dementia/Alzheimer’s

  • Engage in:

    • 150 min+ of aerobic activity weekly

    • 2x resistance exercises

    • Activities enhancing social, physical, and cognitive engagement (dance, swimming, tai chi, games).

For Late Stages of Dementia/Alzheimer’s

  • Focus on mobility and simplicity:

    • Seated exercises

    • Progressive walking activities

    • Balance training

    • Ensure activities are tailored to individual capabilities.

Studies and Conclusions

  • Various studies support the connection between physical activity, cognitive function, and dementia risk reduction.

  • Emphasis on early intervention and continued engagement in physical activity for those diagnosed.

Additional Insights

  • Dancing: Found to have protective benefits against dementia risk, improving both mental acuity and social interaction.

  • Activities should be enjoyable and suitable for individual preferences.

Recent Research References

  • Extensive studies by multiple researchers including:

    • Brown BM, Castalanelli N, Rainey-Smith SR, focusing on the relationship between physical activity and cognitive health in aging adults.

  • Suggest further exploration of the correlation between physical health metrics (such as cardiorespiratory fitness) and cognitive performance.

  • Thank you for engaging with this material and emphasizing the importance of physical activity in enhancing mental and cognitive health across populations.