Can Pickleball Stop Dementia?
Maybe…
Ninety-something-year-old Kevin is not as quick as he used to be. Usually, the players have to move him around on the Pickleball court, tell him where to be, remind him of the score. But Kevin keeps up nonetheless. Hit a ball near him, and he will skillfully pound it back to you. When it’s his time to serve and keep score, he adds it up — sometimes getting it wrong like some of the 30-somethings he plays with.
For years, medical researchers have claimed that increasing physical activity and challenging the mind can help prevent or delay cognitive decline and the onset of dementia. Pickleball does both.
According to a 2021 study by Ampaio et al., physical exercise can improve cognitive functioning in cognitively impaired individuals.
Physical exercise has been described as a non-pharmacological alternative capable to induce benefits through modulation of the brain structure and function.
Several studies have substantiated the positive effects of physical activity in slowing down cognitive decline. Jia RX 2019, Wang 2014, Lautenschlage 2008, Kramer 2009, and Heyn 2004 all conducted studies with similar conclusions — exercise is key to a healthy mental life.
This is where the Pickleball Community comes in. Pickleball provides a venue for physical activity…
