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Exercise Reverses Memory Loss |
Research recently completed at two U.S. Universities has demonstrated
that moderate exercise can reduce the effects of brain shrinkage in
adults between the ages of 55 and 80. The memory portion of the brain
normally shrinks 1 - 2% a year in people in this age group. The study
has shown that walking for 40 minutes, three times a week can reverse
this trend.
The study divided a group of 120 subjects into groups containing walkers and non-walkers. Magnetic resonance images of the brains were used to gauge progress before, during and after the one year study. The results: The active group gain in brain size by 2.0% while the control group lost 1.4% of brain size in the memory producing area.
It's never too late to start exercise. Even moderate exercise like walking can effectively reverse age-related memory loss.
WebMD Health News
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