In order to protect the brain from the effects of aging, you may need to increase our muscle mass.
A new study has revealed that exercise to strengthen muscles can help slow mental decline, improving also cognitive performance.
The study was conducted by researchers from Canada and the U.S. on a sample of 86 women who were facing minor cognitive disabilities, but which may, in time to dementia.
Patients whose age varied between 70 and 80 years, were divided into two groups. One group followed a strength training using dumbbells and equipment room and the other group was part of a cardiovascular exercise program based on plimbărin outdoors. Another group, the control, consisted of women who have made rudimentary exercises for balance and toning.
After six months, women in the first two groups were descurat much better in a series of mental tests, compared with control group. But participants in the group followed the strength program showed a major improvement anumitte responses to mental tasks involving executive functions.
“Executive function involves complex thinking. It is the ability to make decisions, to do more tasks simultaneously planning to do,” said Dr. Liu-Ambrose, involved in the study. This type of exercise tend to involve more sustained mental effort just because we constantly monitor to check if they do right. However, walking is an automatic action that does not require feedback.
Moreover, increase muscle mass leads to increased blood levels of a hormone called IGF-1 (Insulin Growth Factor-1), a process that may be beneficial for the brain. Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose even speculates that IGF-1 could promote growth and differentiation of neurons, improving brain function.
Source: The Globe and Mail
