Exercise Helps Fight off Dementia
One recent study in Eurekalert looked at the effects of exercise in 29 individuals who were determined to have mild cognitive impairment. These patients were randomly assigned to either a high intensity aerobic exercise group or a control group and followed for 6 months. According to the researchers, “Six months of a behavioral intervention involving regular intervals of increased heart rate was sufficient to improve cognitive performance for an at-risk group without the cost and adverse effects associated with most pharmaceutical therapies.”
The results were even more pronounced in women, which may be explained by the affect exercise has on insulin, glucose, and stress hormones.
Another study reported in Time followed 749 rural Italians over age 65. The results showed that those exercised moderatley decreased the probability of developing vascular dementia over those with little or no exercise.
The study’s authors suggest that, “exercise lowers the risk for cerebrovascular disease by increasing blood flow to the brain; exercise may also enhance the brain’s ability to build “functional reserves” against damage by building elasticity in synapses and decreasing the secretion of stress hormones that negatively impact brain tissue.”
It is important to note that this study provided only a correlational link, not a causation link. This means that those who exercise also tend to exhibit healthier lifestyle patterns, such as stress management and nutritional diets. Therefore, the authors recommend regular exercise in conjunction with healthy lifestyle patterns for the best effect on your brain.
Foods To Protect Your Brain:
Blueberries help with memory, according to a study in Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The researchers investigated the memory performance in older adults with early memory impairment who consumed wild blueberry juice vs.a control group. The results showed improved performance on various memory tasks.
“Blueberries contain polyphenolic compounds, most prominently anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, anthocyanins have been associated with increased neuronal signaling in brain centers, mediating memory function as well as improved glucose disposal, benefits that would be expected to mitigate neurodegeneration.”
Another similar study showed the same beneficial effects of these potent phytochemicals in foods using concord grapes.
Bonus Link: Follow up on Fructose (Dr. Mercola)
Dr. Mercola just posted yet another article on the benefits of exercise from the Wall Street Journal:
(http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704350304574638331243027174.html)
The author reports that studies have shown exercise to: increase telomere length in DNA (anti-aging benefits), improve immune function, lower blood pressure, reduce LDL cholesterol, and help regulate blood sugar.
Try to get all those benefits from a single drug with a side effect of feeling and looking fantastic!