Aerobic exercise is a key factor to every healthy lifestyle, both young and old. The benefits are limitless and aerobic exercise is the key foundation to your cardiorespiratory system, helps lower your blood pressure, lower your bad cholestrol levels, improves your stamania, decreases fatigue and depression, and even helps improve your self-confidence. But there is more, especially for seniors.
Recent studies have shown that one of the key benefits that aerobic exercise plays in seniors is improved memory. Deep in the center of our brains is a small structure called the hippocampus, which plays a very essential role in learning and memory. The hippocampus encodes new information so that we can recall it later. Without a hippocampus, we would not be able to recall new memories, we'd only be able to remember the old ones.
As part of the normal aging process, the hippocampus shrinks. This shrinkage speeds up as we grow older, causing memory problems and dementias (a form of Alzheimer's disease).
Scientists have discovered that in certain areas of the aging brain, new cells are born and grow throughout life. Peter Snyder, a neuroscientist and researcher at Brown University's Alpert Medical School and Rhode Island Hospital, says the hippocampus is one of those brain areas that continue to form new cells and make new connections between cells. He also states that "it is exercise that seems to have the most efficacy at this point, more so than nutritional supplements, vitamins and cognitive interventions". He also goes on to state that, "what we find is that exercise - aerobic exercise, a moderate amount on a regular basis shows chemical changes that occur in the brain that promote the growth of the new neurons in the hippocampus."
The major chemical change in the hippocampus during aerobic exercise is an increase in a brain protein which acts like a fertilizer during the birth of new brain cells by nourishing new connection between neurons.
A year-long study was completed comparing a group of senior "couch potatoes" to a group of seniors who benefitted aerobically (walking). The finding showed that not only did the aerobic exercise protect against normal shrinkage, but also that new cells were added to the hippocampus.
It doesn't matter whether you are young or old, what matters is knowing the importance aerobic exercise plays in everyone's daily health. Whether it is walking, running or participating in a group aerobic class, some form of daily aerobic exercise is a must for all of us to have a healthier, more enjoyable, and more "memorable" life as we age.
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