Keep Walking for Better Brain Health

Getting regular exercise may take a bit more effort during the winter months, either by using walking poles and proper attire to face the elements or by finding indoor alternatives such as community centers, mall walking programs or home treadmills.  For those with enough snow, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing is a great aerobic alternative to walking.

And it’s well worth the bother, according to a new study reported by CBC Canada out of the University of British Columbia.   The research, which involved seniors with an average age of 74, found that older adults who participated in three hours of walking each week were able to improve their cognitive performance.

All the participants of the study suffered from vascular cognitive disorder, the second leading cause of dementia, which affects the blood vessels in the brain. Walking for an hour, three times a week, was found to improved brain function better than eating a healthy diet or participating in an education program about the condition.

The study also found that in order to reap the benefits, exercise must be regular and ongoing.  Seniors who stopped exercising after the study was completed lost the cognitive gains of regular walking within six months.

While there is no drug therapy that is effective for this type of dementia, getting regular exercise year-round is possibly the best method to prevent and even improve cognitive decline.  And it’s never too late to start.  Even if you have been a couch potato for years,  by starting slowly you can gradually build up to three hours of walking each week.  And as always, consult with your doctor before starting any new exercise program.

To read the full study Aerobic Exercise and Vascular Cognitive Impairment in the Journal Neurology, visit www.neurology.org .