Keep Moving to Keep Brain Sharp in Old Age
By Steven Reinberg
Staying active in old age may help pre-
serve your memory and thinking skills,
a new study suggests. “Physical activity
may provide cognitive reserve” that helps
preserve the brain even in the face of de-
mentia, said lead researcher Dr. Aron Bu-
chman. Lifestyle appears to play a major
role in keeping the mind sharp as we age,
he said. Other studies have found that
keeping socially and mentally active also
improves mental skills.
“Together, these suggest that a more active
lifestyle, including physical, cognitive and
social activities, may help maintain brain
health in older adults,” Buchman said.
“Even if we don’t have treatments for Al-
zheimer’s disease, there’s a benefit to hav-
ing a more active lifestyle that can protect
the brain,” Buchman added.
Keith Fargo, director of scientific pro-
grams and outreach for the Alzheimer’s
Association, agreed. For the study, Bu-
chman’s team looked at 454 older adults.
There were 191 who had dementia and the
rest did not.
Participants had physicals and tests of
memory and thinking skills every year for
20 years. When participants died, the re-
searchers looked at their brains for signs
of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The
average age at death was 91. About two
years before death, each participant was
asked to wear a device called an acceler-
ometer, which measured their physical
activity around the clock. Their activities
included cleaning house and exercise rou-
tines.
Researchers found that participants who
were the most active had better thinking
and memory skills than those who led
more sedentary lives.
People who had better motor skills -- ones
that help with movement and coordina-
tion -- also had better thinking and mem-
ory skills, the study found.
The link between higher activity and bet-
ter thinking remained consistent whether
a participant had dementia or not. And
even a small boost in activity helped,
lowering dementia risk by 31 percent.
Increases in motor skills were linked to
a 55 percent lower risk, Buchman’s group
found.
Even people who are very old and have
lived a sedentary lifestyle can see a ben-
efit from exercise. Based on other studies,
aerobic exercise seems to be the most ben-
eficial. Aerobic exercise increases a per-
son’s breathing and heart rate. It includes
activities such as walking, swimming and
cycling.
The time to really begin thinking seriously
about your brain health to have the best
outcome is, if not your entire life, at least
by early middle age.
It’s never too late or too early to start lead-
ing a more active lifestyle.
Community Health of South Florida Inc. (CHI) is hosting a Speakers Bureau Series to celebrate Black History Month
in February 2019. We hope you will join us at these free events to learn more about health disparities affecting the Black
Community. CHI’s doctors and healthcare experts will tell you what you need to know about diabetes, heart disease,
cholesterol, HIV and behavioral health issues. These informative sessions are open to the public and also include free
health screenings and informational literature from CHI’s outreach team. (We have partnered with community organiza-
tions and churches. Some of the CHI speeches will occur during Sunday morning church services.)
FEBRUARY 2, 2019 FEBRUARY 16, 2019 FEBRUARY 24, 2019
Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church is hosting South East Dade Ministerial Alliance
10701 SW 184 Street, Miami FL 33157 the “Passing It On” Black History Month Program is hosting a Community
12:30-1:30pm Free mammograms from the 3515 Douglas Road, Coconut Grove FL 33133 at Black History Program
FIU mammovan for qualifying women 11am-1pm. At Florida City Youth Activity Center
1:30pm-2:15pm CHI doctor speaks FEBRUARY 17, 2019 650 NW 5 th Avenue,
Second Baptist Church Florida City, FL 33034
FEBRUARY 10, 2019 11111 Pinkston Drive, Miami, FL 33176 *tickets required for this event call
Higher Praise and Worship Center 10:30am Service 6610 SW 59 th Place FEBRUARY 24, 2019
th
South Miami 33143
10am Service
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church
11591 SW 220 Street, Miami FL 33170
11am Service
Dr. Watts 305-910-5355
4pm-6pm
FOR QUESTIONS
PLEASE CALL (305) 252-4853
www.chisouthfl.org