Steps to take now to keep your aging brain in shape

And by taking steps, we don’t mean playing brain games or taking vitamins. We mean taking actual steps . That’s right. Research has shown over and over that exercise helps keep dementia at bay, and that living a sedentary lifestyle makes you far more likely to succumb to cognitive decline as you age. But what kind of exercise are we talking about here? And how much? Relax… you don’t have to go out and buy a gym membership in order to keep your mind sharp. Some simple physical activity, done on a daily basis , will do just fine. Here’s a little bit about how moving helps keep your mind functioning, and some advice on what types of exercise are best. How exercise prevents dementia You may be wondering, how exactly does getting out of my chair have a positive effect on my brain? Researchers are wondering that, too. Some of it seems like common sense. Take vascular dementia (VD), the second most frequent dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. If physical activity sends more blood to the brain, it makes sense that it could help prevent VD, which is caused by restricted blood flow to the brain. Studies have shown that walking helps develop the brain’s plasticity , or ability to repair itself. And a 2017 study revealed that the foot’s impact during walking sends pressure waves through the arteries that can actually increase the supply of blood to the brain. When you’ve got a difficult problem to solve, or you’re just stuck on an assignment at work, have you ever tried going for a walk and found yourself more clearheaded afterward? The hippocampus , the area of the brain that’s critical for learning and memory, becomes very active during exercise. Our critical thinking improves, and we go back to […]

Click here to view full article