Many seniors already know exercise can build muscle and bone strength, improve balance and reduce physical ailments such as arthritis pain. A new study also determined that aerobic exercise can boost senior living in another way - by improving cognitive function.
The study's results were published in the Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, and showed that aerobic exercises like walking, running, swimming and biking were critical to maintain and even improve cognitive health throughout life. Across a range of mental tests, the older adults who worked out regularly and were more physically fit scored better than their unfit peers. However, these results were not seen among children or young adults. While aerobic exercise has a host of other benefits for people of every age, the researchers note that fitness does not affect all areas of cognitive function for younger people. But in older adults, it's simple - fitness equals better mental functioning.
Previous studies have shown that active individuals - those who walk, jog or run regularly and have for much of their lives - may be able to ward off brain damage linked to Alzheimer's. AARP reports a study conducted earlier this year showed that adults between the ages of 45 and 88 who were aerobically active in the last decade had lower levels of the Alzheimer's protein in their brains than those who were not physically fit. Everyone in the study carried the gene that has been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's, but the fit participants had protein levels in their brains comparable to people who do not have the gene.
That particular study led researchers to conclude that exercise and physical fitness is one of the best ways to prevent dementia and the need for Alzheimer's care.
No comments:
Post a Comment