A recent international study, including researchers from Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s Brain Health Center at Providence Saint John’s Health Center, has revealed a compelling connection between regular exercise and better brain health.
The study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, explored MRI brain scans from 10,125 individuals and found that engaging in physical activities such as walking, running, or sports is associated with increased brain volume in key areas.
Key Findings:
Regular physical activity was linked to larger brain volumes in crucial regions, including gray matter (involved in processing information), white matter (connecting different brain regions), and the hippocampus (critical for memory).
Reduced Dementia Risk: The research supports earlier studies that have shown a lower risk of dementia in individuals who engage in physical exercise.
The study suggests that even moderate levels of physical activity, such as taking fewer than 4,000 steps a day, can have a positive impact on brain health. This finding makes regular exercise more achievable for many people compared to the often-suggested goal of 10,000 steps.
Physical activity is associated with larger brain volumes, indicating potential neuroprotective advantages that can help maintain brain health as people age.
This research builds upon previous work and underscores the importance of modifiable lifestyle factors, such as diet, stress reduction, social connection, and physical activity, in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Overall, the study highlights that staying physically active, even through simple daily activities like walking, can significantly contribute to better brain health.
The findings emphasize the interconnected relationship between physical activity and brain health, offering an accessible and drug-free way to promote healthy aging of the brain.
These findings reinforce the notion that exercise is not only beneficial for physical health but also plays a crucial role in maintaining cognitive function and reducing the risk of age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
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The research findings can be found in Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
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