Friday, February 18, 2011

Can't Find the Car Keys? You Might Want to Take a Long Walk


We know that regularly walking for exercise is an excellent means of maintaining physical health. Now there's new evidence that a moderate amount of regular walking can improve the brain's resistance to Alzheimer's disease and reduce memory loss.

An ongoing 20-year study at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania monitored cognitive decline and physical activity levels among 426 individuals. Some of the study participants were healthy, some had mild cognitive impairment and some had mild Alzheimer's disease.

During the study, scientists tracked how much walking each patient did in a week, and after 10 years, conducted MRI brain scans to look for changes in brain volume. Study results showed that higher levels of physical activity were correlated with greater brain volume. (Brain volume declines indicate dying brain cells and deteriorating brain health.)

Scientists concluded that healthy adults need to walk at least 6 miles a week to maintain brain volume and significantly reduce the risk for cognitive decline. Cognitively impaired individuals need to walk at least 5 miles to maintain brain health.

Results of the study were presented at a meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in November 2010.*

Incorporating regular walking into your normal routine can help reduce those embarrassing 'senior moments' and protect against more serious cognitive decline over the long term.

*Radiological Society of North America (2011, January 2). Walking slows progression of Alzheimer's, study suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 18, 2011, from www.sciencedaily.com­