Regular moderate/instense exercise helps preserve brain function

[CoachBobM]

A study published in the journal Neurology in June found that MRIs of patients who engaged in regular moderate to intense exercise, such as hiking, tennis, swimming, biking, jogging, or raquetball, were significantly less likely to show brain damage caused by blocked arteries than were those of patients who engaged in regular light exercise, such as golf, walking, bowling, or dancing, or in no regular exercise at all.

The study involved 1238 patients whose average age was 64 at the beginning of the study, and utilized a questionaire to determine how often and intensely they exercised. 43% indicated that they had no regular exercise, 36% indicated that they engaged in regular light exercise, and 21% indicated that they engaged in regular moderate to intense exercise. The MRIs were performed after 6 years, when the patients' average age was 70. The study did not explore why those who engaged in regular moderate to intense exercise had better MRIs.


Bob