Few things are as unconditionally healthy as exercise. Besides the instant gratifications of losing weight, building muscle and simply feeling great, it protects against a host of deadly afflictions, especially as we age.
Most of the obvious ones are physical — heart disease, diabetes, cancer. But it also staves off the various mental ails we call dementia.
Studies suggest that exercise is one of the best ways to prevent cognitive decline in our golden years. The data consistently show that people who are more active are more likely to retain their memory and thinking skills. That goes for physical activity of any kind, it seems, but aerobic exercise — anything that raises your heart rate — appears to be best.
Precisely what it is about engaging the body that enhances the mind is unclear, but there are a few theories. Exercise is accompanied by a boost in the protein BDNF, ...
