5 Totally Painless Ways to Be More Active

 '“Find ways to be more active!” I hear it all the time. And to be honest, I really do need to find easy ways to be more active. Most of my work is on the computer, so it’s easy to lose track of time and suddenly realize I’ve been sitting down for most of the day! And I have a feeling I’m not the only one who has this problem.

But I Exercise! Why Find Ways to Be More Active?'

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Physical Exercise Still Beats Mental Workouts For Keeping The Brain In Top Form

'Regular physical exercise appears to trump mental memory games when it comes to protecting the brain from shrinking, an otherwise natural process that occurs with age. Conversely, mentally and socially stimulating activities, long believed to stimulate the brain, had no major effect on preventing brain shrinkage, according to a study published in the journal Neurology.'

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"People in their seventies who participated in more physical exercise, including walking several times a week, had less brain shrinkage and other signs of aging in the brain than those who were less physically active," said lead author Alan J. Gow of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. "On the other hand, our study showed no real benefit to participating in mentally and socially stimulating activities on brain size, as seen on MRI scans, over the three-year time frame."

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Exercise Is Key To Brain Health, Says Study

'Regular physical activity -- even walking -- may be key to maintaining a sharp mind as we get older, two new studies suggest.

While that's not a new discovery, the studies plug critical gaps in the scientific literature and corroborate previous reports linking exercise to reduced rates of mental impairment in older adults.

The message is now clearer than ever: "If you stay physically active, you're buying protection for your brain," says Eric B. Larson, M.D., the vice president for research at Group Health Cooperative, a nonprofit health-care system based in Seattle.' 





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Memory Loss Can be Reversed -- Just Do THIS

by Dr. Mercola

'Moderate physical activity performed in midlife or later appears to be associated with a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment -- and a six-month high-intensity aerobic exercise program can improve cognitive function in individuals who already have the condition.

Each year, 10 percent to 15 percent of individuals with mild cognitive impairment will develop dementia, as compared with 1 percent to 2 percent of the general population.

Physical exercise may protect against mild cognitive impairment by means of the production of nerve-protecting compounds, greater blood flow to the brain, improved development and survival of neurons and the decreased risk of heart and blood vessel diseases.'

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