Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the progressive degeneration of certain nerve cells or neurons that produce dopamine which results in motor symptoms like tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement). However, it also affects cognitive functions of a person like attention, memory, and executive function, which is why the role of cognitive exercises is very significant in coping with this disease.
Cognitive exercises are activities that are designed to maintain and strengthen cognitive abilities such as working memory, processing speed, attention span, remembering, problem solving and overall brain function. These exercises can range from playing brain games online to solving crossword puzzles, doing Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, for improving cognition. By regularly engaging in cognitive exercises, individuals can improve their mental fitness and potentially reduce their risk of declining cognitive abilities.
While being aware that there can be a varying range of effect of Parkinson’s disease depending on the intensity, cognitive exercises can help people with this disease by maintaining or improving the cognitive functioning of the of the brain by simulating the brain and promoting the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections to respond with new experiences and learning. By engaging themselves in various cognitive activities like memory training exercises like memorizing lists, recalling names and faces, recalling specific details with the help of games like memory cards or flash cards. Other exercises can be puzzles, reading a book, or listening to someone or something to build and test their attention span and problem-solving ability. Performing simple activities on a regular basis can help the people maintain their cognitive abilities.
Apart from the use of cognitive exercise in the treatment of Parkinson’s diseases, being aware that is caused due the insufficient production of dopamine in the brain which generates feeling of pleasures, happiness, satisfaction and motivation. It can also be made a a main goal to keep those who suffer from this disease happy which may help in the generation of dopamine.
Taking everything into account, we can say cognitive exercises do or can play a significant role in a person’s ability to cope with this disease and try to improve those functions which have been damages by the disease, overall increasing the quality of their life.
