Hot Yoga for Prevention of Dementia or Alzheimer’s

Dementia and Alzheimer’s are more than just memory loss. They are conditions that can erode a person’s quality of life, independence, and interpersonal relationships. Some medications can slow the process of Alzheimer’s, but once it sets in, it is not reversible. Some forms of dementia can be temporary due to vitamin deficiency or vascular conditions, but most dementia is also irreversible.

Only 25% of these cases are genetic. The rest are preventable.

According to the Mayo Clinic and the International Journal of Clinical Practice, exercise has more impact on aging and Alzheimer’s disease than any other lifestyle factor. Exercising five days out of seven reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s by 35%. If two of those workouts involve strength training, it reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s by half once you are over 65. Don’t wait, though. Obesity in midlife makes you 3 times more likely to have Alzheimer’s.

Hot yoga is ideal for Alzheimer’s prevention because it combines strength with flexibility and stress reduction. Limberness improves balance and reduces risk of head injuries. Flexibility makes your body more resilient as you age and reduces your risk for overall injury, thereby insuring that you can keep up healthy exercise habits later in life.

Chronic stress quadruples the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Dr. Vincent Fortanesce of USC points out that the stress hormone cortisol stunts nerve cell growth and connection, accelerating cognitive decline, premature aging, depression, and diabetes. (Diabetes, by the way, makes you twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s). Yoga reduces stress, thereby reducing your cortisol production. It also helps your sleep patterns. Sleep deprivation, according to memory experts Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Gary Small, can really hurt your brain and central nervous system.

Other tips for Alzheimer’s prevention: eat a brain-healthy diet minimizing processed foods and refined starches, focusing instead on fruits and vegetables, antioxidants, Omega 3 fatty acids, and vitamins. Keep your brain active by learning new things, playing with puzzles and riddles. Avoid toxins like cigarettes, because smoking increases your risk by 79%. For more information, visit Helpguide or The Alzheimer’s Association.

Nikki M. Deasy
TriBalance Yoga Center