January
1, 2005
Save
your brain; get off your butt
Men
who exercised less had 2.6 times greater reduction in cognitive
function than men who maintained physical exercise as they
aged. Also those who exercised less intensely as well exercised
less had 3.6 times greater reduction in cognitive function,
according to findings published in the Journal of the American
Academy of Neurology.
There
have been other similar studies that suggest the same; the
increased flow of blood to the brain during exercise might
be what keeps cognitive functioning fresh, and may stimulate
nerve cell growth in the brains memory centre.
Memory
and cognition are not the only things protected by exercise
as we age; a US study at John Hopkins University School of
Medicine in Baltimore shows that exercise such as cycling,
walking, weight lifting can reduce abdominal fat stores, high
cholesterol, and elevated blood sugar levels - all of which
are risk factors for serious disease.
It
is also accepted that weight bearing exercise like weight
lifting can maintain bone density, prevent muscle atrophy,
and maintain the bodies' metabolic rate. We used to believe
that after age 30 most humans would begin showing symptoms
of "metabolic disorder" - a slowing of the bodies
metabolism as we age accompanied by loss of lean muscle tissue.
As
it turns out, that information refers only to those who reduce
their physical activity. In fact, weight training can increase
lean muscle tissue up to age 80 and probably beyond. What
this means is that if you are ageing and losing muscle mass,
it most likely has more to do with a lack of physical activity
than with age alone.
Exercise
is not a panacea that cures the natural process of ageing,
but it will significantly reduce the rate at which the symptoms
of aging occur, and in most cases will halt and even reverse
loss of lean muscle mass right up to our 60's and beyond.
Don't
succumb to the false notion that we may as well give up as
we age. Get off your butt and save your brain, save your body.
The fact is, our cognition slows and we get fat and out of
shape more so because of less physical activity, not because
we age.
-
Cris LaBossiere
©
2005 Rhino Fitness/ Cris LaBossiere
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