Exercise to a stronger mind
24 March 2014
Think you're a little forgetful - why not add a bit of exercise
to your day?
It seems there is almost nothing exercise can't fix. It helps
maintain weight, reduce risk of disease, boost mood and energy and
now we can add 'improving memory' to the list.
Diabetes Queensland accredited exercise physiologist Kathryn
Kirchner said there was now considerable evidence that
regular exercise can improve your memory.
"Regular exercise increases blood flow
to the brain and helps improve the function of areas of the brain
responsible for memory," she said.
And it doesn't stop there - not only does
exercise increase the size of your muscles, it can literally
increase the size of your brain.
"Regular exercise can increase the size of your brain by up to two
per cent per year," Ms Kirchner said.
"It increases efficiency of the brain and greatly reduces the risk
of dementia as we age."
Kathryn Kirchner's top
tips:
- Try and exercise at least five days per week - or every
day. Research shows improvements to cognitive (thinking)
function after six months of regular exercise.
- Add strength building to your routine. But don't get
the dumbbells out just yet, why not start with this great
strength building program.