Dementia is certainly no laughing matter. This degenerative brain disorder affects roughly 28.9 million people worldwide, with an estimated 4.1 million new cases being diagnosed each year (to put this into perspective, that's approximately one new case every seven seconds). Therefore, it is in our best interest to take steps to help prevent the onset of this debilitating disease.

A study from the University of Washington suggests that engaging in regular exercise may help greatly in this effort. Just three half-hour sessions of moderate exercise per week may reduce the risk of dementia by as much as 40 percent. Moreover, if your form of exercise happens to be competitive sport, the thinking skills involved will further boost blood-flow to key areas of the brain, say researchers.

For more information on dementia, as well as up to date statistics, click here.