Friday, December 1, 2017

How Important is Safe Exercise for Older Adults?

 June Brown is a researcher heading up a project to look at the future of senior accommodation and health across the country for a growing senior health site, which is part of the SeniorAdvisor national network of resources for older adults. While doing her research into the future of health for seniors, she noticed that lack of physical exercise is increasingly becoming a problem for many seniors in our nation. She prepared the following piece on the importance of physical exercise as we age.


"Avoid Brain Fog: Keep Minds Sharp with Physical Exercise as You Age
Physical activity helps keep your brain healthy, slowing down the effects of aging. We all know the benefits of exercise on the body including weight control, prevention of cardiovascular diseases and strengthening of muscles. What is also a remarkable benefit on top of these physiological changes are its effects on the brain. The brain, composed of neurons, is where all the actions happen. This is where all neural activity is stored that is responsible for thought processes, cognition, memory, perceptions, and sensations. Keeping it sharp and strong with physical exercise benefits us as we age.

The Effects of Exercise on the Brain 
Biological effects happen when you exercise. As you exert yourself, your heart rate increases to supply more blood and oxygen to your muscles. Your brain also receives a bigger supply of blood, oxygen, and nutrients for good health. The boost in supply assists in renewing brain cells which help in learning. Simple physical exercises improve memory and build neurons & connections. Physical activity triggers the release of several neurotransmitters such as endorphins dopamine, serotonin, GABA and glutamate. Some of these are known for their ability to improve mood and prevent depression. As a result, you often feel much better after physical activity.

Evidence Supporting the Link Between Exercise and Brain Health
A variety of tests and studies has been undertaken to study the effect of exercise on the brain. The University of Canberra studied the effects of structured physical exercise on the brain of adults for four weeks. After a variety of brain tests, researchers found evidence that aerobic exercise improved cognitive abilities such as thinking, learning, and reasoning. Furthermore, muscle training by carrying weights influences the brain’s memory and its executive functions (planning and organization).
The international collaboration between the University of Manchester and Western Sydney University found out that aerobic exercise can enhance memory function as we age. Researchers studied the effects of physical activity on the hippocampus, the area of the brain where memory and other functions such as spatial navigation and behavioral inhibition occur. The final results suggested that while exercise has no effect on the total hippocampus volume, it increased the left side significantly among humans. Brain size shrinks by 5% every 10 years after age 40. Exercise is viewed as a maintenance activity for brain health to slow down its deterioration due to aging.  

Being physically active not only promotes better biological functions but also improves brain health that can slow down the process of aging and prevent neurodegenerative disorders. If that is not reason enough to get cracking on the bike, consider how wonderful it is to age gracefully with your memory and cognitive abilities in good shape."

Time to get off the couch and go for a long walk. 

 Robert Tell, Author
www.RobertTell.Com