Time and again it has been proved that exercise is the ultimate panache for a healthy life. A recent study has shed light on the significance of exercising and physical activity with brain health and motor abilities. According to the study, older people, who go for morning walks and mild exercises, protect themselves from the effects of small areas of brain damage that can affect their movement abilities. Read about how physical exercise for 20-minute daily cuts early death risk.
Exercise and its role in motor function
Many older people have small areas of damage in their brains seen on magnetic resonance imaging as white matter hyperintensities. Higher levels of this damage have been linked to more problems with movement such as difficulty walking.
In a paper appeared in the journal Neurology, researchers found that people who were physically active did not have a drop-off in their movement abilities even when they had high levels of brain damage. Read more about how to keep your brain fit with these 10 interesting and simple ways.
Are the study results significant?
Debra A. Fleischman, study author, Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago said, ‘These results underscore the importance of efforts to encourage a more active lifestyle in older people to prevent movement problems, which is a major public health challenge.’
The study involved 167 people with an average age of 80. The participants wore movement monitors on their wrists for up to 11 days to measure both exercise and non-exercise activity. Here are 7 tips to help you enjoy exercising!
The detrimental effect was even stronger for those with the lowest levels of physical activity. The results remained the same after researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect the relationship, such as body mass index, depression and vascular disease.
Here are few reasons to start exercising today
#1 Good for heart
Aerobic exercise not only makes your heart healthier and stronger by enhancing the blood flow, but it also reduces the risk of various cardiovascular diseases.
#2 Boosts your libido
Exercise improves blood flow to your genitals and hence, ensures that you last longer in bed.
#3 Lowers blood sugar levels
Diabetics are recommended to exercise (aerobic or stretching) for 30 minutes for 5 days a week in order to reduce their risk of various health complications associated with diabetes.
#4 Helps to lose weight
Indulging in any physical activity like swimming, aerobic exercises, running and sports burns excess calories and fats.
#5 Protects against cancer
Regular physical activity is found to reduce your risk of developing site-specific cancers such as colon and breast cancer.
You may also like to read in detail about various other health benefits of exercises.
