Overview: #Exercise has benefits; we know that. But more and more research is demonstrating that working out and staying physically active can keep your mind young as well as your body. The following study shows that increasing your physical #activity will increase your #brain function and reduce brain aging.
From the Research (News Release): “Considerable evidence suggests that engaging in regular physical activity may prevent cognitive decline and dementia. Active individuals have lower metabolic and vascular risk factors and these risk factors may explain their propensity for healthy brain aging…”
According to study co-author, Nicole Spartano, PhD, research assistant professor of medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), “Every additional hour of light intensity physical activity was associated with higher brain volumes, even among individuals not meeting current Physical Activity-Guidelines. These data are consistent with the notion that potential benefits of physical activity on brain aging may accrue at a lower, more achievable level of intensity or volume,”
Article Citation: Spartano NL, Davis-Plourde KL, Himali JJ, et al. Association of Accelerometer-Measured Light-Intensity Physical Activity With Brain Volume: The Framingham Heart Study. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(4):e192745. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.2745
Full Study Link: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2730790
How to apply: Walk more. Achieving 10,000 or more steps a day was associated with higher brain volume. Read this article to find out more about how to increase your steps here. For a few ideas on how to stay motivated to exercise more, see here. And here is an article that will give you a few other ideas about how to keep active. Also, please try this fitness starter plan that I created here.
