Taking a Weight Off Your Mind!
Help Ward Off Dementia With a Visit to the GymBody-builders have been pumping iron since before Charles Atlas made bulging muscles attractive.
And now new research has shown that it’s not just the physical benefits of weight-lifting we should pay attention to…it’s good for the mind too.
Weight training can help stave off dementia, says the University of British Columbia in Canada, especially in older women, helping to keep the brain active and improving attention span and decision-making.
Studies on a group of women between the ages of 70 and 80 came up with some surprising results…proving that regular visits to the gym really can ward off the effects of ageing on the brain.
Senior Moments and Mild Memory Problems
The guinea pigs, all of whom had begun to experience ‘senior moments’ with mild memory problems, took part in a six-month programme which focused on lifting weights at the gym twice a week.
Eighty-six women were involved in the research – and all reported positive results in their overall brain functions, including problem-solving and the ability to make decisions.
Those who took part in an alternative regime of simple aerobic exercise and gentle body-toning fared less well.
Following the experiment, all those who participated underwent MRI scans and cognitive tests, which also showed that – in technical terms - associative memory performance and functional brain plasticity had been enhanced.
Key factors included improvement in two processes that are highly-sensitive to the effects of ageing and neurodegeneration, both of which are often impaired in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
It is well-known that keeping active through walking and swimming is beneficial as we start to age, but sometimes such activities can be too much for those who are frail or in ill-health.
Gentle resistance training, however, including lifting arm weights, can be carried out without involving too much strenuous effort – and the benefits are now known to be as good for the mind as for the body.
The Technical University in Munich found it can halve the risk of dementia, research from the Harvard School of Public Health discovered that women who exercised in middle age benefited from better overall health as they got older; and a study from the Friedrich-AlexanderUniversity in Germany linked exercise to denser bones and a lower risk of falling.
Nicki Williams is a copy writer for sports retailers Gear-Zone, on-line stockists for Adidas, Nike and all the leading fitness and exercise brands. The Norwich-based company also specialises in outdoor equipment and clothing from major manufacturers including Rab, Berghaus and The North Face
Picture source: Gear-Zone/Energetics
And now new research has shown that it’s not just the physical benefits of weight-lifting we should pay attention to…it’s good for the mind too.
Studies on a group of women between the ages of 70 and 80 came up with some surprising results…proving that regular visits to the gym really can ward off the effects of ageing on the brain.
Senior Moments and Mild Memory Problems
The guinea pigs, all of whom had begun to experience ‘senior moments’ with mild memory problems, took part in a six-month programme which focused on lifting weights at the gym twice a week.
Eighty-six women were involved in the research – and all reported positive results in their overall brain functions, including problem-solving and the ability to make decisions.
Those who took part in an alternative regime of simple aerobic exercise and gentle body-toning fared less well.
Following the experiment, all those who participated underwent MRI scans and cognitive tests, which also showed that – in technical terms - associative memory performance and functional brain plasticity had been enhanced.
Key factors included improvement in two processes that are highly-sensitive to the effects of ageing and neurodegeneration, both of which are often impaired in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
It is well-known that keeping active through walking and swimming is beneficial as we start to age, but sometimes such activities can be too much for those who are frail or in ill-health.
Gentle resistance training, however, including lifting arm weights, can be carried out without involving too much strenuous effort – and the benefits are now known to be as good for the mind as for the body.
- The Canadian research is not alone in showing that moderate activity can reduce the problems associated with ageing.
The Technical University in Munich found it can halve the risk of dementia, research from the Harvard School of Public Health discovered that women who exercised in middle age benefited from better overall health as they got older; and a study from the Friedrich-AlexanderUniversity in Germany linked exercise to denser bones and a lower risk of falling.
- One word of warning…if you’ve not tried it before, don’t rush into any kind of training or exercise without a trained fitness instructor, and – if necessary – advice from your doctor.
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Nicki Williams is a copy writer for sports retailers Gear-Zone, on-line stockists for Adidas, Nike and all the leading fitness and exercise brands. The Norwich-based company also specialises in outdoor equipment and clothing from major manufacturers including Rab, Berghaus and The North Face
Picture source: Gear-Zone/Energetics
Tags: Exercise, fitness, Gym Guide, health and fitness, health and wellness, Weight Training, well-being
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