Exercise May Reverse Brain Decay
We already know that exercise can add years to our lives, but now there is evidence that it also can take years off our aging mind.
Research suggests that regular aerobic exercise may delay or even reverse age-related brain decline, inluding that associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. According to a review of studies in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, moderate physical activity – anything that leaves you breathless – can increase both the volume of brain tissue and the brain’s ability to function.
In a study at the University of Kansas Medical Center, researchers found that patients with early Alzheimer’s who worked out regularly showed less deterioration in the areas of the brain linked to memory than more sedentary patients with the disease. Other studies indicate that high levels of physical fitness have a positive effect on mental plasticity, or the brain’s capacity for growth and development.
Exercise isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s, and it won’t stop us from getting older, but it may help us stay sharper longer. Don’t let age slow you or your mind down.