Everyone should know by now that regular exercise is probably the best
tool for preserving brain function as we age.
It’s especially important, of course, for older people with study
after study showing that even if a person has done no exercise at all prior to
entering their senior years, they can still slow cognitive decline by beginning
to become more active.
What’s really important to stress, though, is that exercise seems to
be particularly beneficial at preventing cognitive decline in the fist place,
that is, that if you do some exercise starting earlier in life, say in early
adulthood or even in midlife, you have a much better chance at preserving your
cognitive function in your older years than if you all of a sudden take up
jogging at the age of 75.
And it doesn’t take much exercise to get this benefit.
In fact, two recent studies from the venerable Mayo Clinics conclude
that any exercised at all in midlife – that’s any exercise at all – slows
cognitive decline and lowers the risk of dementia.
But clearly, the more you do (within reason, of course), the better
for your brain.
