Study: Walking May Reduce Alzheimer's, Dementia Risk

10/17/2010

Not all consumers are inclined to think about the importance of long term care insurance. However, investing in a policy can go a long way toward providing added security during one's retirement years.

A long term care insurance policy covers expenses that Medicare does not - such as nursing home stays and many home health aide expenses. As individuals age, those who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and dementia may be in particular need of these services.

Fortunately, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh recently announced that individuals who walk at least six miles a week may be able to protect their brain size as they age - which will help them preserve their memory. By doing so, people may be able to help lower their risk of Alzeimer's and dementia.

"If regular exercise in midlife could improve brain health and improve thinking and memory in later life, it would be one more reason to make regular exercise in people of all ages a public health imperative," said psychology professor Kirk Erickson, the author of the study.

Specifically, the study found that those who walked six to nine miles per week tended to have more gray matter in their brains when they were older. 

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