Brain health and aging

The secret to keeping our mind intact as we age? Research sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation Network on Successful Aging shows that there are four variables that affect mental fitness: physical activity, lung function, levels of education, and feelings of self-efficacy. The scientists believe that that regular exercise stimulates flow to the brain and promote nerve growth. This results in denser neuronal networks that are more resistant to disease. Moderate aerobic workouts can accomplish this.

Animal studies also support the hypothesis that mental and physical activity enhance brain health. The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology in Urbana, Illinois found that rats developed 25 percent more connections between their neurons compared to rats that did not get any mentally stimulating tasks. Rats that exercised on a treadmill developed more capillaries in their brains (which increased the flow to their brains) versus their couch potato peers.