We all know that exercise is gold for the body – it improves cardiovascular function; reduces the risk of certain cancers; helps people maintain a healthy weight; and builds and maintains muscles, bones and joints.
If this isn’t enough to get you moving, new evidence suggests that exercise can also help you keep your mind young. And this doesn’t mean you have to start training for a triathlon. Taking three brisk 50-minute walks a week will do the trick.
This news is coming out of the University of Melbourne in Australia, where it was found that exercise helps to treat memory problems in adults. Participants in the study had memory problems, but didn’t yet meet the criteria for dementia.
The study looked at 138 people age 50 and older who had an increased risk for dementia. They were randomly assigned to either the 24-week physical activity program or to receive their regular care. Findings showed that a 24-week home-based physical activity program led to improvements in cognitive function.
The participants in the exercise group were encouraged to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week in three 50-minute sessions. The exercise group ended up doing an average of 142 minutes more physical activity per week than those individuals in the regular care group.
Over 18 months, those in the exercise group had better Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) scores and delayed recall, and lower Clinical Dementia Rating scores, than those in the usual care group. The findings were published in the Sept. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Exercise and other lifestyle factors may benefit older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Eric B. Larson, of the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, wrote in an accompanying editorial in the journal.
“Health advances of the past century have led to more individuals surviving to extreme old age, when their risk of Alzheimer disease and related dementias increases substantially,” Larson added. “Exercise — and possibly other lifestyle factors — appears to affect vascular risk and late-life brain health.”
Similar findings were also reported in the first part of this video, a Dan Rather news report on the mind.
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I AM 72 YEARS OLD AND IAM VERY ENTHUSIASTIC
WITH YOUR ARTICLES .
VERY FEW TIMES I MADE EXERCISES IN MY LIFE ;
BUT NOW IAM GOING TO START .
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP .
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU ‚BECOUSE YOU PEOPLE ARE MAKING A PUBLIC SERVICE.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!!!!!!
ILSA Y ALBERTO WEISSFISCH
I’ve just started an exercise program that I like a lot. I have rarely looked forward to exercising as much as I do now and am sure I will enjoy the benefits as I get older.
I am 68 yrs young…that’s my chronological age..my biological age is 30 ish…I have had a YMCA gym membership for the past 10 years…I recommend this to all ages…the choice of aqua classes/swimming/pump/general gym/body balance etc.. the list is exhaustive…I have met wonderful people here and my next project is to purchase a push bike..I was 15 when I last rode…and after that I am going to get a motor bike licence so that I can return to my ‘youthfull’ scooter days..
PS: I am very healthy and feel great…
Hey!
I just stumbled upon your site, and I must say, you have something great going on here. Apropos!
My father, who has always been in great physical condition, has been showing signs of old age mentally the past few months (he’s 67). Although he can still do the physical work of a young 25 year old, his mind tends to drift at times and his memory has been slowing down of late. I’ll be introducing him to some of these mind sharpening techniques and see if it helps…