Want to maintain your memory?

Then take a 20-minute walk - every day. A recent study showed that it made a big difference to the faltering memories in a group of people aged over 50. After just 6 months of doing an extra 20 minutes of daily exercise (in addition to the exercise that they normally did), a group of adults experiencing slight losses in memory and verbal fluency saw good improvements

The exercise didn't have to be terribly taxing - walking, swimming and ballroom dancing were all effective. After the study ended, the improvements lasted for between 12 and 18 months. The researchers also suggest that exercise may help delay Alzheimer's in people who are at risk � those who have mild cognitive decline

The researchers were not sure how exercise improves the mind, but suggested that the boost in blood flow nourishes brain tissue and stimulates the generation of new neurons, synapses, and blood vessels

In Grow Youthful I discuss how exercise can also relieve stress and depression. It is an important detoxification mechanism, helping to clean out your body and prevent the build-up of toxins, including in your brain

(1) Effect of physical activity on cognitive function in older adults at risk for Alzheimer disease: a randomized trial. Lautenschlager, N. T. et al., Journal of the American Medical Association 2008 Sep 3;300(9):1027-1037