Dementia affects memory, thinking, behaviour, and day-to-day function. It can also affect walking, balance, confidence, and independence. While age and genetics are important risk factors, physical inactivity is one modifiable factor linked with cognitive decline. Regular movement, tailored exercise, and early falls prevention strategies may help support function and quality of life.

At PhysioWorks, dementia care may involve exercise physiology, physiotherapy-led balance retraining, and structured falls prevention strategies. For some people, supervised balance and falls prevention classes or tailored neurological rehabilitation exercise programs may be a practical way to stay active and safer for longer.

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is a broad term used for conditions that affect cognitive function. Depending on the type and stage, dementia may affect memory, attention, language, judgement, planning, mood, and behaviour. Symptoms usually develop gradually and can make daily tasks harder over time.

Although dementia is often discussed as a brain condition, it commonly affects physical function as well. Many people living with dementia develop slower walking, reduced strength, poorer balance, and less confidence with movement. As a result, they may become less active, more dependent, and more likely to fall.

What Causes Dementia?

Dementia can develop for different reasons depending on the type. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common causes, but vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia are also common. Risk rises with age, yet lifestyle and health factors also matter.

Some risk factors cannot be changed. However, others may be modified. Physical inactivity, poor cardiovascular health, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, poor sleep, and social isolation are all factors commonly discussed in dementia risk reduction. Therefore, regular exercise and healthy ageing strategies are important parts of broader dementia care.

How Can Exercise Help People Living With Dementia?

Exercise may help people living with dementia maintain strength, mobility, endurance, confidence, and daily function. It can also support mood, routine, and participation in home and community activities. While exercise does not reverse dementia, it may help slow physical decline and reduce the impact of inactivity.

Useful exercise programs often include walking, sit-to-stand practice, lower limb strengthening, stepping drills, balance exercises, and functional task practice. In some cases, supervised group exercise can also improve confidence and consistency.

How Can Exercise Physiology Help Dementia?

Exercise physiology can play an important role in dementia care, especially when the goal is to improve physical capacity, routine, confidence, and long-term participation in exercise. An exercise physiologist can tailor a program to current ability, supervision needs, and medical history, then progress it safely over time.

This approach may suit people who are deconditioned, at risk of falls, or managing other health issues alongside dementia. It can also help family members and carers by providing a clear structure, practical home strategies, and safe exercise options. For more complex cases, neurological rehabilitation through exercise physiology may help target balance, mobility, endurance, and participation.

Why Does Dementia Increase Falls Risk?

Dementia can increase falls risk because several issues often occur together. These may include slower reactions, reduced attention, poor balance, weaker leg muscles, medication side effects, visual problems, and difficulty judging distance or hazards. Reduced confidence and low activity levels can add to the problem.

Falls can lead to injury, hospital admission, and loss of independence. Therefore, it is important to act early. A tailored program that combines balance training, strength work, walking practice, and practical safety advice can help reduce risk.

What Treatment Options May Help Dementia-Related Mobility Problems?

Treatment should be matched to the individual. Physiotherapy may help with mobility assessment, walking retraining, transfers, fall risk reduction, and practical movement strategies. Exercise physiology may help with longer-term conditioning, structured exercise habits, and ongoing progression.

For some people, a supervised balance and falls prevention class can be a helpful next step after assessment. Group-based balance and falls prevention exercise classes may assist with stability, leg strength, confidence, and adherence when a person is safe and suitable for that setting.

What Are the Benefits of Balance and Falls Prevention Exercise Classes?

Balance and falls prevention exercise classes can offer a structured and social way to keep moving. They may help improve balance, stepping control, lower limb strength, confidence, and general activity levels. For some people, regular class attendance also makes it easier to stay consistent with exercise.

Class-based exercise is not right for everyone, so an assessment is important first. At PhysioWorks, balance and falls prevention classes are available for suitable participants, and a clinician can help decide whether individual treatment, exercise physiology, or a group class is the better fit.

When Should Someone With Dementia Seek Professional Help?

You should seek professional help if dementia is affecting walking, balance, confidence, transfers, falls, or day-to-day activity. It is also sensible to seek review after a fall, after a visible decline in physical function, or when carers notice that movement is becoming less safe.

A physiotherapist or exercise physiologist can assess function, identify the key problems, and explain the safest next step. That may include individual therapy, a home exercise program, balance retraining, neurological rehabilitation, or referral into a suitable group exercise class.

Related Articles

• Exercise Physiology
• Neurological Rehabilitation
• Balance Training
• Fall Prevention
• Balance & Falls Prevention Class
• Healthy Ageing Exercise Over 50
• Dementia Australia: Physical Exercise
• WHO: Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline and Dementia

FAQs About Dementia, Exercise Physiology and Falls Prevention

Can exercise help dementia?

Exercise may help improve strength, balance, walking ability, endurance, and general function in people living with dementia. It may also support confidence, routine, and participation in daily activities.

Can exercise physiology help people with dementia?

Yes. Exercise physiology may help people with dementia through tailored exercise programs designed to improve mobility, strength, balance, confidence, and long-term physical activity habits.

Does dementia increase falls risk?

Yes. Dementia can increase falls risk because it may affect judgement, reaction time, strength, balance, and hazard awareness. Falls prevention assessment and exercise may help reduce this risk.

Are balance and falls prevention exercise classes suitable for dementia?

They may be suitable for some people after assessment. A clinician can decide whether a person is better suited to individual treatment, exercise physiology, or a supervised balance and falls prevention class.

When should someone with dementia see a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist?

Professional help is useful when dementia affects balance, walking, transfers, falls risk, confidence, or general physical function. It is also helpful after a fall or when mobility clearly declines.

References

1. World Health Organization. Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia. World Health Organization. 2019.
2. Lam FMH, Huang MZ, Liao LR, Chung RCK, Kwok TCY, Pang MYC. Physical exercise improves strength, balance, mobility, and endurance in people with cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review. J Physiother. 2018;64(1):4-15. doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2017.12.001
3. Valenzuela PL, Carrera-Bastos P, Gálvez BG, et al. Effects of physical exercise on physical function in older patients with dementia and cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Age Ageing. 2023;52(6):afad104. doi:10.1093/ageing/afad104
4. Law LLF, Barnett F, Yau MK, Gray MA. Effects of combined cognitive and exercise interventions on cognition in older adults with and without cognitive impairment: a systematic review. Ageing Res Rev. 2020;15:101003. doi:10.1016/j.arr.2019.101003
5. Dementia Australia. Physical exercise. Accessed March 18, 2026.