People have been studying the human brain for many years in the hopes that they might understand what causes dementia and Alzheimer’s and how to prevent it. Is there such a thing as memory improvement exercises? Today researchers have been studying the effects of exercise on the brain. The researchers used MRI scans to look at the memory part of the brain called the hippocampus. Researchers noticed that the hippocampus continues to expand and retract throughout a person’s life. This allowed the researchers to come up with the hypothesis that the hippocampus could become larger if a person participated in moderate exercise on a regular basis. There were three studies that really stood out in all of the research.
As you age your memory begins to deplete. Some older people will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, others will suffer form dementia, while others will not suffer any memory loss. One study looked at the effects of walking at a moderate pace three times a week for 45 to 50 minutes each session for a year. The study looked at the memory part of the brain before the exercise and then again after the year of moderate paced walking. The results actually showed that the size of brain region involved with memory was larger by two percent. This was shown with MRI brain scans.
The second study looked at the effects of weight lifting for women with moderate signs of memory loss. The study showed that the women that lifted weights two times a week did better on their memory and thinking tests after they had completed the allotted amount of exercise needed for the study.
The third study looked at strength and balance exercises and the effects on the memory part of the brain. The study did show that after a year the memory of the elderly people was improved. This was shown through the MRI’s done before and after the study’s activities.
Like all other Alzheimer’s disease studies the findings were not able to show a clear-cut prescription for stopping mental illness and disease, but the results do show that physical exercise does help slow the process and can even cause an improvement in mental capability.
The studies may not give all the information needed to stop memory research, but it does give us some information to help us with further studies. The results of the studies were significant enough to present at the Alzheimer’s Association annual meeting in Vancouver.
Everyone has a different level of physical fitness as well as varying capabilities to participate in exercise. If there is one main point that can be taken from the research discussed above, it’s that the most important thing you can do is engage in some form of physical memory improvement exercises. It’s astonishing that just by taking a brisk walk a few times per week, we can add to our memory capabilities and help stave off cognitive degeneration.
It’s not just for the benefit of the brain that exercise is beneficial. Exercise plays an integral role in combating Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) and reducing stress. The pathway through which our bodies deal with stress is called the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress ResponseSM. The negative physical effects of stress can be mitigated by exercise. When we engage in strenuous or even lighter forms of physical activity, our hormone levels are taken towards the path of normalization which assists in nutrient absorption and general wellness.
There are many people who take part in negatively impacting practices when coping with stress. This can include mental distraction, poor diet, and lack of exercise. All of these things put together have a negative effect on brain function and, as discussed above, can make us more susceptible to degenerative neurological outcomes.
It is good to know that there is something that we can all do to help mitigate the effects of aging, even if it’s the time tested advice of just getting out of the house and moving around. Along with being memory improvement exercises, physical fitness aids in AFS recovery, reduces stress, and places our bodies on the path to health and wellness. This is something that we should all consider implementing, even if in a limited way. Because everyone has different levels of physical health, it is important to consider what is safe for you to participate in before making sudden changes to your routine. Gradual and progressive changes are usually the best option when creating a sustainable health routine that works for you.
