I didn’t get in my 45 minutes of aerobic activity yesterday and I felt lousy and sluggish all afternoon and this morning. That’s my pattern. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law came in for the week-end and I walked two 10-minute sessions on the treadmill but that was it.
On days when I don’t fit in some kind of aerobic activity, I simply don’t feel as upbeat, as confident, or as physically well. I don’t tell too many people (although now I’ve told the world!) because not many people think like I do.
Last night, however, I was feeling pretty smug about my ‘special need’. I had just read about two studies that demonstrated that regular physical exercise may:
- Slow down the rate of biological aging; and
- Help protect against mild cognitive impairment, a brain disorder that affects nerve cells involved in thinking abilities.
The first study was published in the January 28 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. It was a study of twins in the United Kingdom. Their conclusion: physical activity seems to be part of the formula for living longer.
The other is a more recent study reported by Mayo Clinic at the American Academy of Neurology in Chicago, April 16. Here’s what they have to say:
"Regarding the mechanism of action of physical exercise and mild cognitive impairment, we speculate that either exercise induces chemicals that protect brain cells, or exercise is simply a marker for an overall healthy lifestyle, or there is some positive interaction among exercise, healthy lifestyle and intellectually stimulating activity," says Dr. Yonas Endale Geda, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neuropsychiatrist and the study’s lead investigator.
Great incentive for anyone thinking of including physical exercise in their daily routine.
Do you think information like this would give you that added push to get up and go? Pass this post on to someone who could use a big push.
To your successful aging.
Ruthan Brodsky
Business Writing and Marketing Communications for
Health Care Providers
