Showing posts with label Exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Exercise. Show all posts

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

The road to reducing dementia

This briefing paper from Deeble Institute scholar, Kimberly Ashby-Mitchell, examines the evidence surrounding dementia onset and the role of diet and physical activity in brain health.

The road to reducing dementia onset and prevalence: are diet and physical activity interventions worth investing in? discusses the fact that dementia is now the second leading cause of death in Australia, with over a quarter of a million sufferers at present.  Research shows that high ratios of saturated fats and excessive caloric intake have been found to be associated with impaired cognitive function, while increased intakes of fish,vegetables and legumes have been reported to have a protective brain effect.

Increased levels of physical activity have been found to promote neuroprotective changes in the hippocampus of the brain – a region central to learning and memory, and one of the first areas affected by dementia.  

Thursday, 16 April 2015

Exercise after prostate cancer

Exercise after prostate cancer

Professor Trish Livingston from Deakin University has been undertaking research with her colleagues about the benefit of exercise programs for men diagnosed with prostate cancer.  With around 20,000 diagnosed cases each year in Australia, this study has important implications for maintaining quality of life for these men.  Read about the study and the benefits of exercise physiology in The Conversation article published today, A prescription for better health: exercise after prostate cancer

The full study was also published today in the journal Cancer: Effects of a clinician referral and exercise program for men who have completed active treatment for prostate cancer: a multicenter cluster randomized controlled trial (ENGAGE). One group of clinicians referred their clients to a twelve week exercise program, while another group followed normal care regimes.  "The clinician referral and 12-week exercise program significantly improved vigorous exercise levels and had a positive impact on mental health outcomes for men living with prostate cancer".  he article is available freely on open access.