People are mixed. Some like exercise and want to pursue it.
Some dislike it.
Here’s more to like:
The Mayo Clinic issued the following news release:
Aerobic Exercise May Reduce the Risk of Dementia
Any exercise that gets the heart pumping may reduce the risk of dementia and slow the condition’s progression once it starts, reported a Mayo Clinic study published this month in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Researchers examined the role of aerobic exercise in preserving cognitive abilities and concluded that it should not be overlooked as an important therapy against dementia.
The researchers broadly defined exercise as enough aerobic physical activity to raise the heart rate and increase the body’s need for oxygen.
Examples include walking, gym workouts and activities at home such as shoveling snow or raking leaves.
“We culled through all the scientific literature we could find on the subject of exercise and cognition, including observational studies, reviewing over 1,600 papers, with 130 bearing directly on this issue.
We attempted to put together a balanced view of the subject,” says J. Eric Ahlskog, M.D., Ph.D., a neurologist at Mayo Clinic.
“We concluded that you can make a very compelling argument for exercise as a disease-modifying strategy to prevent dementia and mild cognitive impairment, and for favorably modifying these processes once they have developed.”
The researchers note that brain imaging studies have consistently revealed objective evidence of favorable effects of exercise on human brain integrity.
Also, they note, animal research has shown that exercise generates trophic factors that improve brain functioning, plus exercise facilitates brain connections (neuroplasticity).
More research is needed on the relationship between exercise and cognitive function, the study’s authors say, but they encourage exercise, in general, especially for those with or worried about cognitive issues.
“Whether addressing our patients in primary care or neurology clinics, we should continue to encourage exercise for not only general health, but also cognitive health,” Dr. Ahlskog says.
AND WHILE WE ARE ON THAT TOPIC:
A new study recommends that exercise be part of treatment. Here is the link:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21658349
The synopsis: Many people do not recover when tried on antidepressants. When clinicians add exercise to the mix, they are greatly helped.
BOTTOM LINE:
Antidepressants are rather over rated. A good workout is as good or better than drugs, and something you can do the rest of your life. No unpleasant side effects; no trips to the drug store.
Figure out how you can put this to work in your life. Exercise is worth while. At the same time, exercise outdoors is better than indoors. Walking in wilderness is better than walking (or running) in the city. Nature helps.
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