Fitness training and eating a balanced diet will keep the heart healthy and in turn may offset dementia, it has been suggested.

Mid-life heart health and diet are connected to later development of dementia, explains Timothy Parry, spokesman for the Alzheimer's Research Trust.

"The best advice in mid-life is to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly, though it's never too late to improve lifestyle and reap the many health benefits it brings," he commented.

Indoor rowing is a great way for people of any age to stay fit and get some exercise as it is not load-bearing and works all muscle groups.

Those taking to an indoor rowing machine for the first time should ensure they get the technique right in order to make their workout as efficient as possible and avoid potential injuries.

When starting, lean back slightly and keep legs straight with the handle drawn in to the body and elbows by your side.

As you extend your arms, rock the body forward, then bend the legs until they are pressed against the body.

Pull down and back with your legs to return to the starting position.

Posted by Matt Wallace