I was (and still am to a lesser extent) a geriatric nurse and have worked with many people living with Alzheimer’s and other conditions causing dementia.
Dementia affects our ability to think and express oneself clearly. When I work with the elderly, either as a nurse or Feldenkrais practitioner, I am always interested in also helping the person maintain their mobility. I hate being sedentary and love walking, probably because I notice how good walking makes me feel.
Now a report from this month’s Alzheimer’s conference held in Vancouver suggests that people with cognitive changes also showed changes in their ability to walk with ease, showed balance changes and were less able to perform other tasks while walking. Subjects in the studies who walked slower and with less consistency and confidence also did more poorly on cognitive tests, particularly those involving planning and organizing activities, often referred to as “executive functions.”
The researchers wonder if changes in walking come ahead of observable changes in cognitive functioning and suggest that asking someone to walk be included in any comprehensive assessment of an elderly person.
The take home message for me? I feel supported in my desire to help others maintain their mobility. And I will continue to walk as much as I can. I incorporate walking into my daily routines – walking the stairs instead of taking an elevator, I park farther from my destination so I have to walk and do many errands by foot instead of by car.
I invite you to consider the importance of walking for your own brain health.
