Exercise for the mind and memory

Australian researchers have shown that daily exercise can improve memory and reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The memory study

Researchers studied 170 people over a 6 month period who averaged about 20 minutes of exercise a day. They were aged over 50 years. They all wore a pedometer and kept an exercise diary.

Researchers assessed the exercise group and a control group who took no exercise to find that the memory skills of the exercise group improved. The cognitive assessment scale is a tool used to assess Alzheimer’s Disease.

Researchers comments

Dr. Eric Larson, from the Group Health Center for Health Studies, wrote in the studies editorial, “In the United States, pharmaceutical direct-to-consumer advertising has sensitized patients and the public to using cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer’s disease. This illustrates the appeal of ‘doing something — anything’ that might help prevent a dreaded disease, even if its value is minimal. Promoting habitual exercise for aging patients seems more worthy.”

He added, “This is a potential motivator to our society to design more walkable and bikeable communities. It gives people yet another reason to exercise.”

About Kellie

Kellie is 37 years old and together with her brother Steve makes up the My Health Software team.

She helps on the websites and gathering news for the programs. Kellie worked in the medical industry prior to having her two children (8 and 6) and has a strong interest in self awareness and management of health conditions.

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