Do you want to postpone the aging process of the brain and even reverse it? According to CNN studies, walking or cycling at least 3 times a day improves the cognitive functions of the brain. And when combined with a heart-healthy diet, it can keep your brain healthy for years to come.
We fully support a healthy lifestyle. Today, we want to share a study that says that if you do something very simple now, you will make incredible improvements in the future.
Ways to Slow Down Brain Aging
How It Works
160 adults with a mean age of 65 years participated in a 6-month study. Participants did not engage in any physical activity prior to the survey, had trouble making decisions and concentrating on things, and showed signs of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension. They all passed cognitive tests.
Anyone diagnosed with dementia or unable to exercise for any reason was excluded. The researchers randomly divided the participants into 4 groups.
The first group had to do the DASH diet. This diet is very healthy for the heart and blood vessels, but it also has a positive effect on the whole body.
The second group did a full aerobic exercise course 3 times a week: warmed up for 10 minutes and then did 35 minutes of continuous walking or a stationary bike. What was special about this group was that they had no dietary limitations.
The third group had to do most of the work. Participants exercised 3 times a week and followed the DASH diet.
The fourth group had a 30-minute lecture on cardiovascular disease risk. And the participants were not advised to change their diets or habits.
Brain Health Improves Along With Heart Health
The best results during the second cognitive test were shown by the group that exercised and followed the diet. Participants in the third group scored an average of 47 against 42 in the second group and 38 in the fourth.
At the beginning of the research, the group’s mean executive functional score was 93 years, 28 years older than their mean chronological age of 65.
After 6 months of the experiment, their mental age dropped to 84. So, the DASH combination diet and exercise allowed the researchers to delay brain aging by 9 years.
The head of the Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Clinic, Dr. Richard Isaacson, said that controlled exercise not only improves brain function, but it also does so very quickly.
The way to rejuvenate the brain has already been found, so all we have to do is figure out how to rejuvenate the body.
The promoters of this research went one step further to improve quality of life at any age. But the best thing about this experiment is that it can be repeated at home! Would you consider trying it yourself?
Preview photo credit ru.depositphotos.com
