I’ve written several posts in the past which connected physical exercise to brain fitness. Well I just came across a news article today on yahoo which further highlighted this connection.
The article reported the results of a study performed by Dr. Patricia A. Boyle and her colleagues of Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago. They found that the greater a person’s muscle strength, the lower their likelihood of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The same was true for the loss of mental function that often precedes full-blown Alzheimer’s.
The researchers initially measured the strength of nine muscle groups in the arms and legs of 970 dementia-free men and women 54 to 100 years old (their average age was around 80). During a four year follow-up, 138 people in the study developed Alzheimer’s. These individuals were older and had worse mental function than the rest of the study participants. They also were weaker. They found that muscle strength had a strong influence on the risk of the disease. People who ranked in the top 10 percent for muscle strength were 61 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than the weakest 10 percent. Stronger people also showed a slower decline in their mental abilities over time.
“These findings support the link between physical health and cognition in aging and the importance of maintaining good physical function and strength,” Boyle told Reuters.
“Good physical health is important for good brain function.”
While traveling on business a week or so ago, I came across this older man who gave me a valuable secret with respect to keeping our brains sharp and fit as we get older. Since I know most of you are interested in such things, I’ll share with you how I cam across this man and what I learned about aging and brain fitness.
I was sitting at a table in the lounge area of a small airport waiting for our delayed plane to arrive. While I was sitting there watching a big screen T.V., this older man asked if he could sit down at my table.. I said sure. This man was dressed very casually, had long white hair tied in a pony tail and had a beard. We started out with small talk and then he started talking about himself, his family and the many and varied things that he’s seen and done in his life. He handed me his business card which indicated he had a Ph.D. and was a Professor Emeritus at the local state University. During our discussions, he noted things that had happened to him many decades ago. I said to him, “how old are you because you certainly don’t look old enough to of experienced some of those things.” He said he was 83 years old. I was a little taken back at first because he certainly didn’t look or act 83 years old to me. Mentally he was sharp as a tack. I said, “what’s your secret to staying so mentally sharp?” He replied, “I stay engaged.”
This 83 year old Professor Emeritus was definitely engaged in life. He had not retired from work – didn’t want to retire. He was still teaching kids about architecture at the local University. In fact he had taught not only locally, but had at different times in his life taught at different locations around the World. He continues to travel the world for both business and pleasure. He keeps up with local and World politics and goings on. He stays socially engaged. In fact on several occasions during our wait at the airport, I noticed that he had socially engaged many others just like he had done with me – he liked to socially engage with others.
So how do you keep your brain sharp and fit as a tack as you age? Stay engaged!
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From neurons to brain wiring, Dr. David Walsh gives us an easy-to-understand video tour of children and teens’ brain development and the vital impact experience has on the “wiring’ of their brains.
Since we now know about brain plasticity and our brains ability to continue to develop and grow new connections throughout our lives, the principles presented in this video can be carried forward into adulthood as well. For instance, “use it or loose it” and the importance of how and what we stimulate our brains with.
In this day in age of extremely polarized politics and World turmoil combined with the financial meltdown we’re all currently experiencing, finding a way to deal with stress becomes all the more important. I recently came across a great article in the Vancouver Sun regarding mental exercise, specifically meditation, and the positive impact it can have on our brains with respect to dealing with stress.
The author of this article, Denise Ryan, stated the following:
Richard Davidson, one of the world’s top brain scientists, believes that mental exercise, specifically meditation, can literally change our minds.
“Our data shows mental practice can induce long-lasting changes in the brain,” said Davidson, professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
We can become more self-aware, better at handling distressing emotions, and more empathetic, a combination that creates greater social effectiveness.
Because our brains are plastic ( neuroplastic ) throughout our lives, we can literally change the wiring of our brains, regardless of age. To evoke such changes however, it requires mental exercise and regular practice.
Old dogs CAN learn new tricks.. and I think that’s a good thing!
