Aging Well

Muscle Loss May Signal Dementia Risk; Experts Recommend This Brain-Healthy Exercise

Recognizing early warning signs, dancing, and practicing finger-coordination exercises may help protect brain health.
Muscle Loss May Signal Dementia Risk; Experts Recommend This Brain-Healthy Exercise
Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock
Amber Yang
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Dementia rarely develops overnight. Long before memory problems become obvious, subtle changes elsewhere in the body may signal that the brain is under stress.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner Yu Ya-wen, chronic insomnia, muscle loss, and hearing impairment can all precede cognitive decline. Among these, loss of muscle mass—known as sarcopenia—may be one of the strongest warning signs. The good news is that lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, quality sleep, and even dancing may help protect brain function and reduce dementia risk.

TCM and Dementia

In TCM, dementia is often associated with imbalances in the kidney and spleen systems.
Amber Yang
Amber Yang
Amber Yang is a certified personal trainer. She met all the requirements of the American Council on Exercise to develop and implement personalized exercise programs. She worked as a marketing manager for natural skin care products for years and as a health and beauty reporter and editor for ten years. She is also the host and producer of the YouTube programs "Amber Running Green" and "Amber Health Interview."