In Campbell County, Kentucky, approximately 1,600 individuals aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's disease, representing about 10.1% of the county's senior population. Statewide, around 80,500 seniors are affected by Alzheimer’s.  Both physical and mental exercise play a significant role in the prevention and management of Alzheimer’s disease.  

To address this disease, the Campbell County Extension Service taught Exercise for Your Body and Brain to twenty individuals. Most of the individuals attending were 65 years and older.  The seven-week series utilized curricula from the University of Illinois Extension Wits Workout and the Arthritis Exercise Program.   The Wits Workout promotes brain health and social interaction among older adults, providing structured and engaging activities that support cognitive well-being. During the sessions, participants learned and discussed brain-health topics from the Wits Workout (memory recall, food and nutrition, sleep, physical activity, social engagement,) and completed several challenging written and verbal puzzles. Their discussions led to them building connections with each other and developing new friendships. Each class also included physical activity by participating in exercises from the Arthritis Foundation. 

A five-month follow-up Qualtrics evaluation showed the following after attending the Exercise for Your Body and Brain series:

•    100% incorporated more physical activity in their life.

•    83% used strategies to help them remember things in their daily lives.

•    67% have challenged themselves by doing something new or intellectually stimulating.

•    67% have increased their social contacts or have been more intentional with socializing with others.

•    67% have tried to find healthy ways to manage stress.

One participant said, “I have benefited from the resistance bands that we received.  The bands provide a whole-body workout. The brain tasks in the classes inspired me to challenge myself with quizzes and different brain exercises I find online.”  Another participant said, “I have worked on the puzzles in the handout booklet at home daily and have done the exercise workouts with the bands.”