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Walking: A power boost for your brain
Your feet have more in common with your brain than being on opposite ends of the same body. New research shows that if you step lively and cover about 6 miles a week -- easy to do if you walk 30 minutes a day -- you’ll help keep your brain from shrinking as you grow older. The bonus: No, it’s not saving money on buying hats. It’s upping the chances that you’ll hold onto your memories.
That’s what researchers learned when they looked at the brain scans and test results of 299 regular walkers. Those who covered roughly 6 to 9 miles a week lost less grey matter through the years than those who walked less. Plus, the walkers cut their memory loss by half.
It’s no surprise that exercise acts like Miracle-Gro for your mind, clearing the plaque that gunks up your brain’s power lines. Along with walking, though, we YOU Docs suggest doing an exercise once or twice a week that also requires using your brain. Playing singles tennis or practicing yoga -- both of which keep you engaged in the moment -- can really help clear your head at the same time as you work your body.
And here’s more good news about your aging brain: Another study of 1,616 adults found that the decline in mental abilities -- from reasoning ability to vocabulary -- isn’t as steep after 60 as experts thought. And young minds? They do keep getting smarter, but not as much as 5th graders may think.
The YOU Docs, Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen, are authors of “YOU: On a Diet.” Want more? See “The Dr. Oz Show” on TV (check local listings). To submit questions, go to www.RealAge.com.
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