Alzheimer’s tool kit

The Ontario Brain Institute is launching a physical activity tool kit to help people with Alzheimer’s manage the disease — and to help others prevent it.

The fitness kit was developed by experts from McMaster University and the Ontario Brain Institute. It took nearly a year to develop.

In all of his 96 years, John Nagy can’t recall a time he wasn’t physically active: “Hockey, baseball, football, lacrosse. The whole bit back there and at that time you could swim in the bay — it was not polluted!

Sharp as a whistle he works out every day of the year and credits that for his longevity: First of all, I exercise at home before I get here for about 40 minutes, then I walk to the gym two miles away, that’s another 40 minutes. Then another hour and half at the gym.”

He loves the social atmosphere Mac’s Pace facility provides for older fitness enthusiasts: “We talk a lot over there and we laugh and laugh it’s about half a dozen of us.”

He says a cluster of laughing old men must be a sight to behold for some: “Students must be around there thinking old people laugh — what do they see so funny — maybe they think were mentally challeneged.”

Experts say exercise can ward off cognitive diseases.

Kathleen Martin-Ginis: “Exercise has been shown evidence it can reduce risk of people developing Alzheimer’s and for those who have disease can manage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.”

The fitness tool kit is information based and encourages people to schedule their workouts like they would other engagements.

Kathleen says: “And we don’t break those appointmens, we have to be at work. But unfortunately, a busy day is the first thing to go, if you make an appt. More likely to follow through with it.

Exercise protocols for people that suffer from Alzheimer’s disease is not new. But McMaster says their’s is different for one unique reason.

Kathleen says: “It’s evidence based it involved all of the research on exercise to prevent and manage alzheimer’s, experts, clinicians, reviewed that evidence.

When asked if he is still strong enough to travel, he answers the silly question unequivocally: “Oh, of couse I could do that tommorow no problem!”

One out of every 11 Canadian suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and it’s not an old persons illness. 15% of people that develop it are under the age of 65.

If viewers would like the tool kit, here is a link where it can be downloaded in French or English.