Regular Exercises Keep Not Only Heart Healthy, But Brains Too

A new study by researchers at University of Montreal and its affiliated Institut universitaire de gératrie de Montréal Research Centre, analyzed the link between cardiovascular strength and brain health. For this study recruited 31 people aged 18 to 30 and 54 people aged 55 to 75. All participants were hale and healthy with no record any physical or mental health conditions. The participants' fitness levels were recorded using a workout machine and their maximum oxygen intake was measured within 30 seconds.

The researchers revealed exercise benefits the aorta, the main vessel coming out of the heart.

Lead researcher, Claudine Gauthier from University of Montreal, in a press release stated, "Our body's arteries stiffen with age, and the vessel hardening is believed to begin in the aorta, the main vessel coming out of the heart, before reaching the brain. Indeed, the hardening may contribute to cognitive changes that occur during a similar time frame."

The study found that older people whose aortas were in a better condition and who had greater aerobic fitness performed better on a cognitive test.

The research team compared the older participants within their peer group and also against the younger group.

The results demonstrated age-related declines in executive function, aortic elasticity and cardiorespiratory fitness, a link between vascular health and brain function, and a positive association between aerobic fitness and brain function.

The findings of this study were published in The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.



Source-Medindia