In all the times you've been told that exercise is good for your body and mind, have you ever wondered why that is? What exactly is the relationship between your power walk and your brainpower? Researchers have some fascinating new ideas about that, and they have to do with early humanity very early.
Around 2 million years ago, humans adopted a hunting-and-gathering lifestyle, which led to increased aerobic physical activity, explains David Raichlen, Ph.D., a human and evolutionary biology professor at the University of Southern California. Hunting animals and foraging for plant foods required a combination of spatial navigation, memory, motor control, and executive function.
As a result, our bodies and brains might have evolved to require exercise. We know that cardiovascular and skeletal systems tend to atrophy without the healthy stress of use-and the same thing may be happening to the modern brain, suggest Raichlen and his colleague Gene Alexander, Ph.D., of the University of Arizona. Exercise may increase neuron growth, particularly if the brain is involved in the physical activity, says Raichlen.
A TRUE MIND-BODY WORKOUT
There's a name for the kind of exercise that benefits the brain: dual-task training or neuromotor exercise, explains Ryan Glatt, a brain-based certified personal trainer at the Pacific Brain Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. Glatt, who holds a master's degree in applied neuroscience, runs group and private sessions for older adults with cognitive concerns, using virtual reality and active video games (exergames).
The idea is that by actively engaging the brain while you exercise, you could improve certain aspects of brain activity more than you would with a less cognitively demanding workout.
Denne historien er fra October 2022-utgaven av Prevention US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 2022-utgaven av Prevention US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
What's Up With...Smelly Gas - You can blame it on the dog, but it happens to everyone.
The average person toots around 14 times a day-it's how your body releases the extra gas that accumulates when you swallow air and digest food, says Shilpa Ravella, M.D., author of A Silent Fire: The Story of Inflammation, Diet, and Disease. If you chew gum or smoke, you'll have even more gas buildup, she adds.
WHAT'S UP WITH ...EARWORMS
When a song gets stuck in your head, here's how to shake it off.
5 MYTHS ABOUT ARTHRITIS
Creaky joints are a pain, but some facts” about them are pretty twisted.
A Solo Trip at 55 Boosted My Confidence
When I retired, a big, beautiful world opened up to me.
NUTRITION for Healthy Breasts
YOU KNOW THAT EATING MORE CALORIES THAN YOU BURN can cause your body to accumulate fat.
Mammogram CONFUSION, Solved!
IT'S THE RARE WOMAN WHO DOESN'T VIVIDLY REMEMBER CERTAIN FIRSTS
Make Your BREAST GUESS
No.two breasts not even your own!) are identical in shape, size, or feel. But it’s important to pay attention to what makes each one of yours unique so you can spot peculiarities early and start conversations with your health care providers if need be. Consider this your friendly guide to what changes to expect through the years and. what to do if something feels or looks unusual so you can take steps toward better breast health.
come as you are
We all deserve quality health care, but people in bigger bodies are often shut out. That's why some providers have worked out a new approach that aims to treat the person actually sitting in their exam room rather than the one they would be if only they lost weight.
Ease Your Allergies
These holistic remedies may provide relief from seasonal symptoms.
WALK AWAY PAIN
One of the best things you can do to ease joint and back pain and ward off future ouches is so very simple: JUST TAKE IT STEP BY STEP.