Following a physical exercise program could help protect the brain of older people or even reverse their initial mental decline… Exercises are very important to keep fit at any age. There are five elements to consider to incorporate into any physical activity routine. It is not essential to do all these exercises in daily sessions, but it is necessary to intersperse or dedicate a day for each one specifically. This quintet is made up of aerobic exercises, the main component of any fitness program; muscle stretching and strengthening; those for strengthening the core muscles, such as the abdomen, trunk and pelvis; and balance training, to avoid unfortunate falls capable of causing fractures over the years. Those who wish to be in optimal physical and mental conditions must take into account these five components for a complete session with all the benefits associated with it.
Among the many advantages of physical exercises, following a program could also help protect the brain of the elderly or even reverse its initial mental deterioration. In addition to improving heart and lung health, growth in the cerebral cortex has been detected in studies carried out in this regard in this age group. Many people consider it too late to start exercise when a person shows symptoms of memory loss, but different data suggest how exercise might have a benefit at this early stage of cognitive decline.
In a study conducted at the University of Maryland and published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 34 inactive people aged 61 to 88 years were selected and given an exercise regimen that included walking at a moderate intensity in a treadmill 4 times a week for 12 weeks. In all of them, heart and lung health improved by about 8% at the end of that period. Brain scans of these people showed increased thickness of the cortex, the outer layer of the brain that normally shrinks in Alzheimer’s disease. Those who experienced the greatest improvements in fitness had the greatest bark growth. The thickening of the cerebral cortex occurred in both healthy people and those with mild cognitive impairment, at an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease.
Those who experienced the greatest improvements in fitness had the greatest bark growth. The thickening of the cerebral cortex occurred in both healthy people and those with mild cognitive impairment, at an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease.
Physical exercises may also help reverse neurological degeneration and the brain’s tendency to shrink, as seen in people with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s. Previous research has already discovered how exercise can be beneficial for other areas of the brain of older people. More research is needed to determine whether moderate physical activity can slow or reverse mental decline and help people remain independent as they age. But if physical exercise is beneficial for the brain of the elderly, it should also improve the cognitive performance and intelligence of individuals at younger ages who need superior mental performance to succeed in everyone’s work and social life. the days.
