The not-so-great news: Scientists now believe that one in five Americans over age 65 experiences some form of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which may affect memory, decision-making, or reasoning skills. In many cases, MCI advances into more severe forms of dementia, includingAlzheimer’s disease.The good news: Mounting scientific evidence proves that a lot of our risk for any form of cognitive impairment is in our own hands. Our lifestyle choices each and every day (including these13 healthy habits) can drastically increase or decrease the likelihood that we’ll be diagnosed with dementia.Getty Images / Klaus Vedfelt / filoResearch just published in theFrontiers in Endocrinologysuggests that one of those habits—exercise—and a specific form of it may be best for our brains. Individuals who performedmoderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise 3 times per week that increased in intensity over the course of the 6-month studyexperienced a boost in healthy brain biomarkers.What to Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, According to SciencePrevious studieshave found that aerobic exercise (AKA any form of cardio, from walking to cycling to dancing) can boost the amount of gray and white matter in the brain, enhance blood flow to the brain and preserve or perhaps even improve memory.For this particular study, the researchers tracked 23 late middle-aged adults with an average age of 65 and examined three specific biomarkers that are involved in learning and memory. Half were assigned to follow their typical physical activity patterns (which were less than therecommended 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week) while the other half were assigned “enhanced physical activity,” or 3 sessions of weekly cardio that got progressively more challenging over the course of the study.Both thegut microbiomeand the three brain metabolites tracked showed beneficial changes in the enhanced exercise group.Overall, the findings “support the beneficial effects of exercise training on brain function and brain health in asymptomatic individuals at risk for Alzheimer’s disease,“Henriette van Praag, Ph.D., fromFlorida Atlantic University’sSchmidt College of MedicinetellsFlorida Atlantic University’s News Desk.The best news of all: You need not run a marathon or bike a 100-mile century ride to score these brain benefits. Another recent study proves thatwalking 3 times per weekcan deliver a serious dose of dementia prevention. And if you’re new to exercise on the whole,starting with just 10 minutescan truly make an impact in the fight to prevent or slow cognitive decline.Nordic walkingis a stellar place to start.Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
The not-so-great news: Scientists now believe that one in five Americans over age 65 experiences some form of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which may affect memory, decision-making, or reasoning skills. In many cases, MCI advances into more severe forms of dementia, includingAlzheimer’s disease.The good news: Mounting scientific evidence proves that a lot of our risk for any form of cognitive impairment is in our own hands. Our lifestyle choices each and every day (including these13 healthy habits) can drastically increase or decrease the likelihood that we’ll be diagnosed with dementia.Getty Images / Klaus Vedfelt / filoResearch just published in theFrontiers in Endocrinologysuggests that one of those habits—exercise—and a specific form of it may be best for our brains. Individuals who performedmoderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise 3 times per week that increased in intensity over the course of the 6-month studyexperienced a boost in healthy brain biomarkers.What to Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, According to SciencePrevious studieshave found that aerobic exercise (AKA any form of cardio, from walking to cycling to dancing) can boost the amount of gray and white matter in the brain, enhance blood flow to the brain and preserve or perhaps even improve memory.For this particular study, the researchers tracked 23 late middle-aged adults with an average age of 65 and examined three specific biomarkers that are involved in learning and memory. Half were assigned to follow their typical physical activity patterns (which were less than therecommended 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week) while the other half were assigned “enhanced physical activity,” or 3 sessions of weekly cardio that got progressively more challenging over the course of the study.Both thegut microbiomeand the three brain metabolites tracked showed beneficial changes in the enhanced exercise group.Overall, the findings “support the beneficial effects of exercise training on brain function and brain health in asymptomatic individuals at risk for Alzheimer’s disease,“Henriette van Praag, Ph.D., fromFlorida Atlantic University’sSchmidt College of MedicinetellsFlorida Atlantic University’s News Desk.The best news of all: You need not run a marathon or bike a 100-mile century ride to score these brain benefits. Another recent study proves thatwalking 3 times per weekcan deliver a serious dose of dementia prevention. And if you’re new to exercise on the whole,starting with just 10 minutescan truly make an impact in the fight to prevent or slow cognitive decline.Nordic walkingis a stellar place to start.
The not-so-great news: Scientists now believe that one in five Americans over age 65 experiences some form of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which may affect memory, decision-making, or reasoning skills. In many cases, MCI advances into more severe forms of dementia, includingAlzheimer’s disease.
The good news: Mounting scientific evidence proves that a lot of our risk for any form of cognitive impairment is in our own hands. Our lifestyle choices each and every day (including these13 healthy habits) can drastically increase or decrease the likelihood that we’ll be diagnosed with dementia.
Getty Images / Klaus Vedfelt / filo
Research just published in theFrontiers in Endocrinologysuggests that one of those habits—exercise—and a specific form of it may be best for our brains. Individuals who performedmoderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise 3 times per week that increased in intensity over the course of the 6-month studyexperienced a boost in healthy brain biomarkers.
What to Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, According to Science
Previous studieshave found that aerobic exercise (AKA any form of cardio, from walking to cycling to dancing) can boost the amount of gray and white matter in the brain, enhance blood flow to the brain and preserve or perhaps even improve memory.
For this particular study, the researchers tracked 23 late middle-aged adults with an average age of 65 and examined three specific biomarkers that are involved in learning and memory. Half were assigned to follow their typical physical activity patterns (which were less than therecommended 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week) while the other half were assigned “enhanced physical activity,” or 3 sessions of weekly cardio that got progressively more challenging over the course of the study.
Both thegut microbiomeand the three brain metabolites tracked showed beneficial changes in the enhanced exercise group.
Overall, the findings “support the beneficial effects of exercise training on brain function and brain health in asymptomatic individuals at risk for Alzheimer’s disease,“Henriette van Praag, Ph.D., fromFlorida Atlantic University’sSchmidt College of MedicinetellsFlorida Atlantic University’s News Desk.
The best news of all: You need not run a marathon or bike a 100-mile century ride to score these brain benefits. Another recent study proves thatwalking 3 times per weekcan deliver a serious dose of dementia prevention. And if you’re new to exercise on the whole,starting with just 10 minutescan truly make an impact in the fight to prevent or slow cognitive decline.Nordic walkingis a stellar place to start.
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