from Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
Use it or lose it! You’ve heard that
admonition before. Here it is again.
Researchers at the University of
Maryland School of Public Health
examined blood flow in the brains of
healthy, physically fit older adults before
and after a ten day period in which they
stopped all exercise. After the idle ten
days, an MRI of the brain showed these
previously very active people
experienced significantly reduceed blood
flow in eight regions of the brain,
including regions that are important for
maintaining brain health. Lead author,
Dr. J. Carson Smith says the study adds
to evidence that if we are less physically
active, we are more likely to have
cognitive problems and dementia as we
age. The study appears in Frontiers in
Aging Neuroscience.