The recent findings from a new study regarding aerobic exercise and brain health, were discussed when it was presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The research suggests that regular aerobic exercise might help to preserve brain volume and also help to improve cognitive function.
Participants who exercised for at least four times a week over a period of several months, were seen to have remarkable changes in the brain as far as increased brain volume and improved functioning.
The research findings however are just preliminary, they have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The study involved 16 participants who had an average age of 63. The participants engaged in aerobic exercise regularly by doing treadmill work, stationary bike work, and elliptical training work.
All of the participants had some variation of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The control group in the study participated in simple stretching exercises for the same frequency, compared to the other group that did the aerobic activity. The researchers used high-quality MRI images to investigate and measure the changes in the brain.
The participants who were involved in the exercise group were shown to have significant improvement in their thinking and memory after only 6 months of engaging in the aerobic activity. The same wasn't seen in the group that did the stretching.
It is amazing to see what kind of improvement can be had with just a slight change in physical activity as far as implementing a regular aerobics exercise regime. The participants who were involved in the aerobic exercise group showed significant improvement in their executive functioning, compared to the control group.
The researchers say that any type of exercise can provide benefit to the body, but these findings indicate that aerobics might offer the ability for individuals to gain higher cognitive functioning.
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Sources:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161130130916.htm
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/11/30/Aerobic-exercise-may-help-guard-against-dementia/9691480541168/
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/living/242789/exercising-4-times-a-week-increases-the-size-of-your-brain-protecting-against-alzheimers/
Along with Exersice, you need to supplement your diet with vitamins and minerials. Everyone knows when you sweat you need to replace the water that you loss but not everyone knows that that sweat contains more than just water and salt. It also contains all the vitamins and minerals your cells need to function. That's the main reason you get hungry after a good workout because you just sweated out a bunch of stuff your body needs so it tells the brain it's time to eat and replenish those vitamins and minerals.
i have friends who will go work out for a few hours then go carb-load at mc donalds or wendys after because it made them so hungry..ive sat there and literally watched them down like 3-4 burgers lol .. thus defeating all of their hard work lol
I use to do the same thing when I was in High School. You're better off eating a salad with no dressing, drinking a coconut water to rehydrate and maybe a whey protein shake.
old studies have shown this already. the main part is moderation. overdoing it causes inflammation, which can counter any benefit. it depends on your goals, also.
aerobic exercise increases blood flow, cell proliferation and retention in the brain, and even has been shown to lengthen telomeres, but beware, the person who ran the first marathon, died of it.
Most people don't replenish the vitamins and minerials you sweat out during exercise. Guess what happens when your potassium levels drop to critical levels? Your Heart stops and you drop dead. That's why marathon runners can look so healthy and drop dead in the middle of a race.
sodium, potassium balance is key.