Senior Exercise (cont.)
Does exercise help cognitive function?
One of the most exciting areas of exercise research is the investigation of cognitive function. What scientists
have learned so far is that brain neurons, the special cells that help you
think, move, perform all the bodily functions that keep you alive, and even help
your memory, all increase in number after just a few days or weeks of regular
activity. In a study where researchers used an MRI machine to measure the amount
of brain tissue in adults 55 years of age and older, they found, consistent with
other studies of aging and brain volume, that there were substantial declines in
brain tissue density as a function of age in areas of the brain responsible for
thinking and memory, but importantly, the losses in these areas were
substantially reduced as a function of cardiovascular fitness. In other words,
the fittest individuals had the most brain tissue.
How might fitness and more brain tissue help you? In another meta-analysis of older adults, researchers
found that the fittest individuals had the highest scores on tasks like
coordination, scheduling, planning, and memory. And in a recent study of 1,740
adults older than 65, researchers found that the incidence of dementia in
individuals who walked three or more times per week was 35% lower than those
individuals who walked less than three days per week.
Can exercise improve mood?
Research suggests that as many as 14% of males and 18% of females over age 55 are depressed. It has been documented that exercise
can alleviate symptoms of depression in younger adults and even compete with
the effects of antidepressant medication or psychotherapy in terms of
effectiveness, but unfortunately there is very little research on the effects of
exercise and depression in older adults. What is fair to say is that exercise
has a mood-elevating effect in most adults, whatever their age, even if it's not
the cure for depression in the elderly. Talk to most anyone who exercises, no
matter what their age, and they will report what used to be called a "feel-good"
phenomenon after exercise. Whether it's from getting the heart beating or the
blood pumping, or invigorating brain cells, or simply getting out in the fresh
air, a good dose of exercise typically improves mood, and so I recommend it for
virtually everyone.
How much exercise do I need to do for health and fitness?
The American College of Sports Medicine and American Heart Association recently published
guidelines for physical activity in older adults. Here is a summary of the
recommendations.
Aerobic exercise (walking, jogging, dancing, biking, swimming, etc.): To
promote and maintain health, older adults need moderate-intensity aerobic
physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes five days each week or vigorous
intensity aerobic activity for a minimum of 20 minutes three days each week.
(Moderate intensity is when you feel "warm and slightly out of breath," and
vigorous is when you feel "out of breath and sweaty.")
Resistance exercise (weight lifting, calisthenics): To promote and maintain
health and physical independence, older adults will benefit from performing
activities that maintain or increase muscular strength and endurance for a
minimum of two days each week. It is recommended that eight to 10 exercises be
performed on two or more nonconsecutive days per week using the major muscle
groups.
Flexibility exercise: To maintain the flexibility necessary for regular
physical activity and daily life, older adults should perform activities that
maintain or increase flexibility at least two days each week for at least 10
minutes each day.
Balance exercise: To reduce risk of injury from falls, older adults with
substantial risk of falls (for example, with frequent falls or mobility problems)
should perform exercises that maintain or improve balance.
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