No one knows the answer to this, but some very promising
research coming out of the Salk Institute for Biological
Studies in La Jolla, CA sounds exciting.
Now this research was performed on mice and mice are not
humans. However, there are many similarities on the
cellular level of all of us in the animal kingdom.
And there have been many studies on mice that have helped
the development of research on understanding how the human
body works.
This study took older mice (the equivalent of 70 years old
in human life) and trained them to do an underwater task.
There was also a group of younger mice (about 20 years old
in human life) that was trained on the task as well.
Then they divided the older mice into two groups. One
group did exercise on a running wheel every day for 30 days.
The other group did no exercise.
The younger mice group also exercised every day for 30 days.
At the end of the 30 days the underwater task was repeated.
The older mice group that did not exercise flunked miserably.
None of them remembered how to do the task.
On the other hand all of the younger mice did very well.
The important part of the study was the fact that the older
mice that exercised performed the task just as well as the
younger mice.
On analysis the researchers found that the older mice that
exercised had significantly more new cells in the
hypothalamus. This is the part of the brain that helps
with memory and the ability to learn new tasks.
Now does this mean that exercise will help replace the
cells in the hypothalamus that Alzheimer’s and other brain
destroying diseases destroy?
Again, no one knows yet. However, this is exciting news.
So if you haven’t gotten out there and started exercising
yet, do so now. A new year is coming up and now here is
another reason to motivate you to get out there and do
something.
Does it have to be jogging or lifting weights or going to
the gym? No, just start moving and do it every day.
However if you would like a simple 7 minute routine that
will keep you motivated and help build those brain cells,
just check out this web site:
[http://www.getrealfitnessrevolution.com].
Mike Pickering has been teaching health and fitness for over 35 years. Read his latest articles such as: What diet is best for you – celery and carrots or cake and ice cream? Find out the shocking answer in your Free three part report “The Confusion Over Diets”. getrealdiet@aweber.com
