If you could, would you do aerobic exercise on a regular basis if you knew you would have a better chance of remembering where you put your cell phone, of remembering your friends' names, of doing a better job of bidding at a bridge game, or winning an argument with your kids…finally? I'm betting you said YES.
The conclusion from a couple of recent research projects shows that aerobic exercise, the kind that increases the heart rate and respiration, is important to brain health. We know that regular aerobic activities are associated with a healthier cardiovascular system which means more oxygen and nutrients to the brain so that it can function at its best.
What you may not have known is that aerobic exercise also reduces the numbers of cell-damaging free radicals, again protecting the brain from environmental toxins and producing more proteins that protect the brain. All this from the Massachusetts General Hospital Depression Clinic Study.
Rush University Medical Center in Chicago just reported that the stronger men and women between the ages of 54 and 100 maintained the best brain function. In other words, the greater the muscle strength a person has the more likely she will maintain proper cognitive function over time. An earlier study showed that those who participated least in social activities also had the most cognitive degeneration.
The bottom line for you: Physical Activity, Mental or Cognitive Activity, and Social Participation all contribute to your healthy brain function. If that's the case then creating some type of multidisciplinary approach including all three activities can help us stay alert and strong mentally. Even knowing there's no absolutes, rather than taking a medication for memory, this approach is certainly worth including in our self help health plan.
What are your thoughts about this approach? Do you have other ideas?
To your success at healthy aging.
Ruthan Brodsky
