And the Answer Is?
Feb 10 2010
Remember last week when I asked if you could fill in the blank to this question:
“????????? ???? May Improve Cognitive Skills in Older Populations?”
Well, if you think the word is “EXERCISE,” then you are absolutely correct!
That’s right. Two studies have shown that a sustained exercise program may decrease cognitive decline in individuals over the age of 55.
In January of this year, the Archives of Internal Medicine published the results of the two studies:
• “In a cohort study from Germany, investigators found that moderate or high physical activity was associated with a lower risk of developing cognitive impairment in patients older than 55 years.”
• “The second randomized controlled study showed that resistance training programs improved the cognitive skills of attention and conflict resolution in women between the ages of 65 and 75 years in Canada.”
Researchers were quite taken aback by the findings. In an interview with Medscape Neurology, Dr. Etgen said, “Physical activity cut in half the odds of developing incident cognitive impairment. We were also surprised that moderate physical activity had nearly the same effect as high physical activity.”
So where does that leave me and my in-basket?
Well, I don’t know about you, but the next time I get overwhelmed, I’m heading to the gym!
Want to find out more about the studies? Go to Netscape Today to sign-up for a free account, then enter the title of the article, “Exercise May Improve Cognitive Skills in Older Population” in the search box.
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2 Responses to “And the Answer Is?”
As with many such reports, and I have no problem with it, one should probably wait a period to give other studies a chance to validate or disprove it. Past examples being vitamin E for the heart, childhood vaccinations causing autism, or the health benefits/problems of male circumcision.
My doctor, tongue firmly in cheek, after telling me to stop taking vitamin E, said he though that someday there would be a study showing that being a chain smoking, obese, drug addicted alcoholic would be shown to be the optimum life style. Now, off to the Y for some excercise.
You make some good points. Guess that’s why hindsight is always 20/20! The conflicting data and studies can be very confusing and frustrating–hard to know what’s ground truth. Sounds like you’ve got the right perspective though.