Yoga Can Greatly Benefit Seniors With Alzheimer’s
Seniors living with Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia often face challenges with regards to self-awareness and social connection. At present, more than 1 million seniors in Italy are living with varying degrees of dementia. Although there is no known cure for their dementia, gentle exercises such as yoga are a sure way to improve the quality of life of the seniors living with it. Yoga can improve fine motor skills, posture, cognition and overall quality of life while also reducing loneliness, making it a worthwhile inclusion into the lifestyle of any dementia or Alzheimer’s patient.
Yoga can help improve the memory of patients with cognitive decline
Patients who display cognitive decline and memory loss but are not yet believed to have Alzheimer’s can benefit significantly from engaging in yoga on a regular basis. According to a study conducted by Dr. Rebecca Erwin Wells, a neurologist from Wake Forest, seniors with mild cognitive decline who practiced yoga and meditation displayed less atrophy in the hippocampus than those who refrained from practicing mindfulness in any form. Research also revealed that seniors who engage in yoga boast greater neural connectivity in the Default Mode Network (DMN) of the brain which is the area responsible for actions such as thinking about the future and past and daydreaming. The sooner preventative and supportive measures such as yoga are introduced, the sooner the benefits of such measures can be reaped.
Yoga can liberate your soul
Seniors with Alzheimer’s have a lot of challenges to deal with. They are often unable to even recognize their loved ones and often become very withdrawn and quiet during the final stages of the illness. Yoga has a highly emancipating nature that can free the mind of many of these burdens, providing the senior with a more positive outlook on their prognosis. Yoga allows seniors to reconnect with the parts of themselves that may have become buried, leaving them feeling somewhat invigorated and euphoric, and able to deal with their illness much better.
Yoga is a potent mood stabilizer
Seniors with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are prone to experiencing severe mental turbulence and emotional distress which can have a very negative effect on their overall health and well-being if not addressed in a timely manner. According to a study conducted by Harvard University in the USA, regular yoga can reduce stress levels and fatigue while combating depression and soothing anxiety. By minimizing uncomfortable physiological responses such as elevated blood pressure and increased heart-rate in the body, anyone’s mood can be drastically improved.
Yoga can undeniably be of great benefit to seniors living with Alzheimer’s. It can also be of equal benefit to their caregivers that also experience significant stress and emotional turmoil, boosting their natural coping capabilities and enabling them to lovingly and patiently care for beloved seniors entrusted to their care.
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