Get your heart rate up for happiness and health
Want to keep your brain sharp? Start exercising. Scientists at the University of Calgary found that people who are fit have better blood flow to their brains, and better blood flow translates to a brain that works better.
"Physical inactivity is now considered a risk factor for stroke and dementia," says Dr. Marc Poulin, the study's principal investigator. Exercise is a prescription for a healthy brain as you age, it's easy to do and can help keep your brain healthy, he explains.
Exercise to improve your mood
And there are more benefits to making exercise a regular part of your life. Study participant Myrna McRoberts, 67, says exercise has always made her feel better. "When I get out there, I don't worry. I don't obsess about things when my body is moving; and I feel good for hours after."
McRoberts' exercises of choice include cross-country skiing, cycling, and visiting the gym or pool a couple of days a week. "I don't do any of these things well, but I do them."
And doing them is all it may take to boost your brain function. Dr. Poulin's study, published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, compared two groups of women -- one active, one sedentary -- with an average age of 65. The team measured the women's heart health, resting brain blood flow and intellectual activity.
The findings: "The ability of brain blood flow and the capacity of the blood vessels to respond to increased demand and cognition is better preserved in women who are physically active compared to women who are sedentary," says Dr. Poulin, who is also a scientist in the faculties of medicine and kinesiology and a member of the department of physiology & biophysics at the University of Calgary.
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