The Surprising Amount of Exercise You Should Do Every Week to Avoid Alzheimer's

ITV This Morning resident doctor Zoe Williams recommends no more than 20 minutes of exercise each week as sufficient in protecting oneself against Alzheimer's disease, reports the Daily Express . Raising heart rate is essential, she notes. "The crucial thing about exercise is that you don't need to do all that much of it to reduce your risk of dementia," Williams explains. "Just once a week, just do something like a 20-minute brisk walk, that could reduce your risk by 20 percent. It's got to get you sweaty and out of breath, and ideally it's more, but 20 minutes can reduce your risk." However, nutrition should not be neglected as a complement to exercise. Williams cites nutritionists' claims that walnuts may help prevent dementia because they contain phytochemicals and minerals that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, and also may lower protein aggregation in the brain.