Exercise May Aid Cognitive Function

Moderate exercise proves key to reducing cognitive impairment during aging

Charles Bankhead writing for MedPage Today, reports “Almost any amount of moderate physical activity in mid- or late life reduced the odds of mild cognitive impairment by 30% to 40% in an ongoing cohort study by Yonas E. Geda, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. For more information regarding this study, and for more studies on Exercise and Fitness focused on body brain function, visit MedPage Today.

Aging -- Fit Body, Fit Mind

Workouts help preserve mental fitness through aging

An interesting article by Christopher Hertzog and team featured in Scientific American supports physical fitness as a hedge against age-related dementia. One study cited showed how the most physically active women had a 30% lower risk of cognitive decline. In this study walking distance was related to cognition, but walking speed was not. Jennifer Weuve’s research team at Harvard University found a significant relation between energy expended in physical activity and cognition. Other interesting research is cited related to the body’s impact on the brain, giving elders an effective way to stay mentally sharp.