Alzheimer’s Disease Could Have A Drug-Free And Effective Treatment Via Table Tennis

Alzheimer’s Disease Could Have A Drug-Free And Effective Treatment Via Table Tennis

Taking medication is currently the most common way to control and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, but it’s far from ideal.

Not only is medication unpopular with patients and their carers as some people can experience side effects, Alzheimer’s medication is having a huge economic impact on the UK.

The disease costs United Kingdom a staggering £26.3 billion annually, with £4.3 billion of total costs going to drugs and healthcare alone.

Thankfully, a bunch of researchers assume they'll have found a way more fun and cost-efficient various to treating Alzheimer’s illness.

They key, they believe, might be enjoying table game.

In partnership with King’s faculty London, the Bounce Alzheimer’s medical care Foundation (BAT) has conducted research to observe the results table game could have on someone with dementia.

When the scientists analysed information from MRI scans during their analysis, they found the game will facilitate cut back psychological feature decline and improve LTM for those living with the ill health.

“There’s an area of the brain known as the hippocampus which part of the brain is seen to be extremely necessary when it comes to making new recollections,” Saint Andrew Battley,

BAT’s research and training director tells HuffPost UK Lifestyle.

“In those with insanity and Alzheimer’s, the hippocampus is shown to be smaller, but activity, such as table tennis, has be shown to help with blood flow to the brain

and actually stimulate that part of it.

“The idea is that if the hippocampus is stimulated and therefore bigger – in other words, not left to waste away – then that’s going to support the brain to hold back symptoms of Alzheimer’s for longer.”

Alzheimer’s Disease Could Have A Drug-Free And Effective Treatment Via Table Tennis

According to BAT, delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s by five years could lay aside to 30,000 lives a year in the UK.

The team were inspired to look into the benefits of table tennis by a documentary film called Ping Pong, that follows eight people across the world as they compete in ping pong competitions.

One character within the film, UN agency is during a care home and has been diagnosed with early onset insanity, finds table tennis within the care facility improves her symptoms.

BAT is currently developing their research, and hopes to train care home staff in delivering a specialised table tennis therapy plan to residents in the future.

They’ve already provided some of care settings with tables and plan to raise funds to eventually bring Ping-Pong to the masses.

Battley, United Nations agency has been an avid Ping-Pong player himself for 28 years, says the construct has been popular care home residents and families that BAT has been concerned

with to date.

“Many older people I’ve spoken to during the campaign have a fond memory of playing table tennis because it was so prevalent when they were younger,” he says.

“The sport could also be obtaining a touch of a retro-hipster makeover lately, but it was definitely something people enjoyed playing back in the day.

“People may not have played for 20 or 30 years, but they pick up a bat and say ‘Oh I used to play this all the time when I was younger’. Within a few minutes it’s all coming back to them and they’re really, really enjoying it.”

One of the people who has witnessed just how useful table game is for individuals with Alzheimer’s illness, is Alison Nicolson.

Her husband Norman, 82, has Alzheimer’s disease.

He been enjoying table game to assist maintain his physical and psychological feature ability for 3 years.

The pair recently became involved in the work of BAT, when they heard about the project at The Alzheimer’s Show, an exhibition around dementia.

Norman played competitive table tennis until he was 64, but took up the sport again at 79.

“He still has wonderful ball skills,” Mrs Nicolson tells us.

“He’s lost how to score and who serves, but boy can he hit that ball!”

“It gives him a great feeling of success, as well as the endorphin high of a good workout.

“It also gives our friends, neighbours and their children, an easy way to engage with him.

All the dads attempt to beat him and fail, even with two players against him.

“For me, table tennis provides an excellent respite, feet up, a cup of coffee, knowing he is safe and happy.”

BAT are going to be beginning to deliver their medical research with King’s school to official medical boards by the end of the summer.

Their next aim is to develop specialist equipment that will enhance the playing of table tennis for people living with dementia.

By watching things like the color schemes and ever-changing the table tennis atmosphere, the team hope to create a unique version of the game that enables people with dementia

to focus better when they’re playing.

“If you speak to anyone UN agency plays Ping-Pong they’ll tell you that it’s good physically, mentally and socially for anyone or any age,” Battley says.

“One of the great things about table tennis is that you can play sat down at the table – that’s why it’s such a good sport for older people.