Former Navy Pilot staying active at Primrose

SENIOR YEARS — Former Navy pilot Cey Zwirn stands at the bar at Primrose Retirement Community. Former U.S. Navy pilot Cey Zwirn used to spend his time in the air; now he’s spending it by land, walking nine miles every week throughout Primrose Retirement Community. The 95-year-old veteran said staying active is important throughout life, but especially in his senior years. In fact, it was in the hopes of living many more years that he modified his exercise schedule to bump up his heart rate more days of the week. 300×250 image ad “I used to walk three miles three times a week, but recently I came back from the dining room and caught the tail end of an interview with our medical doctor,” he said. Zwirn said the doctor was talking about a study that was done that recommended 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. The people who hit that mark, he said, were 50 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. “That interested me because I know some people who have Alzheimer’s disease, and I don’t want it,” Zwirn said. According to the Mayo Clinic, the answer to whether exercise can prevent memory loss and improve cognitive function is “possibly.” That’s enough for Zwirn, so he switched from walking three miles three times a week to walking a mile-and-a-half six times a week. “Physical activity seems to help your brain not only by keeping the blood flowing but also by increasing chemicals that protect the brain. Physical activity also tends to counter some of the natural reduction in brain connections that occurs with aging,” according to the Mayo Clinic. “More research is needed to know to what degree adding physical activity improves memory or slows the progression of cognitive decline. Nonetheless, regular exercise is important to […]

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