Physical activity does more for your body than many people realize. According to research from the American Academy of Neurology, greater amounts of moderate-to-vigorous intensity of physical activity during middle age through later life may have a protective effect on the brain.
The study showed that more exercise during these phases of life prevented brain damaged 25 years later. Read more about the study below:
“‘Our study suggests that getting at least an hour and 15 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity a week or more during midlife may be important throughout your lifetime for promoting brain health and preserving the actual structure of your brain,’ said study author Priya Palta, Ph.D., of Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. ‘In particular, engaging in more than 2-1/2 hours of physical activity per week in middle age was associated with fewer signs of brain disease.’
‘Our results show that staying active during midlife may have real brain benefits,’ Palta said. ‘In particular, consistently high levels of midlife moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity were associated with fewer brain lesions in later life.’
Other research has shown that brain lesions may be caused by inflammation or other damage to the small blood vessels in the brain. ‘Our research suggests that physical activity may impact cognition in part through its effects on small vessels in the brain. This study adds to the body of evidence showing that exercise with moderate-to-vigorous intensity is important for maintaining thinking skills throughout your lifetime,’ Palta said.”
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