| Science spends a lot of time investigating what | | | | high school. Literacy levels, of 9th grade or better, |
| causes mental decline as we age, and not much on | | | | made a subject nearly five times as likely to avoid |
| what things might prevent it. Now the health benefits | | | | decline as those with lower levels of literacy. |
| of exercise appear to include keeping your mind | | | | Nonsmokers were twice as likely to stay sharp. |
| sharp as well as your body fit. | | | | Seniors who continue to work (or volunteer) as well |
| Work appearing in the June 9, 2009 issue of | | | | as those who didn't live alone were 24% more likely |
| Neurology is some of the first to look what factors | | | | to hold on to cognitive functioning. There was no |
| might help you hold on to your mental function. | | | | effect on cognitive skills linked to conditions like |
| The exciting new study found older people who | | | | diabetes or high blood pressure. |
| retained their cognitive function had a unique profile. | | | | Many people think becoming senile as you age is |
| They had at least a high school education and 9th | | | | unavoidable and while one in four older adults |
| grade literacy level. They exercised moderately (or | | | | experiences some form of cognitive decline this isn't |
| vigorously if they were in shape) at least once a | | | | a part of healthy aging. |
| week and they didn't smoke or live alone or if they | | | | What this work is telling us is that you can keep your |
| did they were also still active outside the home. | | | | mind sharp as you age but you need to plan now to |
| The work involved examining 2,500 subjects, both | | | | do so. |
| men and women aged 70 to 79 who were living in | | | | It's important to challenge your brain - give it a |
| either in Memphis, TN or Pittsburgh, PA and taking | | | | workout by taking up different things, enjoying |
| part in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study. | | | | hobbies and pursuing interests. |
| The cognitive skills of the subjects were tested at | | | | There's no one mental exercise that's shown itself so |
| the beginning of the eight year study, and then again | | | | much better than any other - anything that has your |
| in years 3, 5 and 8. | | | | mind working is a good choice. |
| As the researchers expected, many of the | | | | But that's not all you should be doing. |
| participants showed cognitive decline as the study | | | | Being mentally active works best when you're living |
| progressed - about 53% had minor cognitive decline | | | | well - eating healthy, being active as much as you |
| and 16% experienced major cognitive decline. About | | | | can, avoiding tobacco and other unhealthy substances |
| 30% of the subjects showed no cognitive decline. | | | | while keeping those appointments for regular medical |
| Unexpectedly, a few had even improved their scores. | | | | checkups and screenings. |
| The researchers wondered what made the | | | | "The take-home message from the study is, you can |
| difference in those who experienced cognitive decline | | | | maintain your cognitive function in late life," explains |
| compared to the subjects who didn't. | | | | study author Alexandra Fiocco, a postdoctoral fellow |
| The answers were quite eye opening. | | | | at the University of California, San Francisco. |
| Exercisers who did either light or vigorous workouts | | | | "People are afraid they will experience cognitive |
| once a week were 30% more likely to hold on to | | | | decline as they age. But not everyone declines." |
| cognitive function than those who didn't workout. | | | | In fact, this work raises the very real possibility that |
| Education also played a part. Those who had a high | | | | cognitive decline might even be preventable with the |
| school education were almost three times as likely to | | | | health benefits of exercise being wider than ever |
| retain function than those who hadn't graduated from | | | | thought before. |