This Dementia Action Week, we’ve collated some statistics on how physical activity can help to both reduce the risk of developing dementia and support those living with it.
Firstly, what is dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders, that is, conditions affecting the brain. There are over 200 subtypes of dementia, but the five most common are: Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia and mixed dementia. Dementia damages nerve cells in the brain so messages can’t be sent from and to the brain effectively, which prevents the body from functioning normally.