|
|
|
|
||
|
||
|
|
||
| SEARCH | SUBSCRIBE | ||
Some related articles : |
 |
Exercise Keeps Older People's Brains Sharper
Staying active helps the thinking process of those between 80 and 90 years old and even mild amounts of daily exercise improves the ability to focus and react according to 2 recent studies. "By leading an active, involved lifestyle, you may be able to maintain your ability to think and react to situations well into late life," Walter R. Bixby, of the University of Maryland told Reuters Health. "This is especially important for getting through tasks of daily living when one considers driving, walking down the street with groceries, following directions, etc.," Bixby added. Bixby studied 106 seniors whose average age was 80, to investigate the link between physical activity and brain function. Each senior completed a survey about the amount of time spent weekly participating in vigorous activity, leisurely walking, moving, standing, and sitting. Afterwards each senior was tested on their focusing abilities. Bixby found that seniors who participated in high levels of physical activity scored high on the cognitive test; they focused on the tasks despite surrounding distractions better than the less-active seniors. Bixby further noted that the seniors were not extremely physically fit, and concluded that, "a moderate level of physical activity, not necessarily an exercise training plan per se, but just doing something, may lead to improvements in one's cognitive ability. The main recommendation for anyone young or old would be to try and incorporate some form of physical activity into your life. Also, try and keep your mind active by reading, doing crosswords, or trying to learn new or different materials," Bixby told Reuters Health. In a second study, Sean Deeny, of University of Maryland, studied 36 men and women aged 66 to 89. Deeny used brain scans to measure inhibitory function, or the ability to focus on one thing over another, and he found that a higher level of physical activity was associated with increased focusing abilities, but only among men. Deeny cited higher cardiovascular fitness as a way that physical exercise could preserve brain functioning. It allows "more blood flow and oxygenation in the brain." Individuals benefit if they "stay physically and mentally active." Deeny told Reuters Health; "Healthy body, healthy mind." Deeny plans more studies which will include individuals genetically susceptible to Alzheimer's disease; he hopes to determine if a link exists between their physical activity level and brain functioning. Both studies were presented at the North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Conference in Hunt Valley, Maryland. FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Action on Aging distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
|
