Research

c) Age-related cognitive impairment (or mild cognitive impairment MCI) – is when an elderly person’s memory starts to wane and they have problems recalling their short term memories, they have difficulty learning new things, their thinking process starts to become reduced and have difficulty concentrating. It is thought that MCI can develop due to alcohol abuse and cognitive decline (poor diet, chronic inflammation, vascular disease and

A study conducted by Harvard Medical School regarding on how could exercise help your brain and what kind of exercise will help your brain to have a better result. In this article, we learn that exercises can help your brain and can also help your memory. The researchers examined different people to try to understand what exercises could help your brain using 30 minutes section. In this study, the researchers randomly evaluate people doing exercises like cardio and compared their memory and their productivity with those that didn’t any type of exercises.

Participation in physical activity has been shown to have many health benefits for older adults; this study does not provide strong support that it protects against cognitive decline. Reports have been made that physical activity may help guard against stroke and coronary heart disease, both of which may be associated with the development of dementia. Some studies were either limited in their scope or had short follow-up times. In all they find that for older adults, physical activity alone may not protect against cognitive decline. (By Charnicia E. Huggins: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseforseniors.html)

Intelligence refers to the ability to obtain information and apply skills and consists of different functions, memory, reasoning, logic; these are all controlled by different areas of the brain. Alzheimer’s Disease inhibits short term memory first, before it continually moves throughout the brain, eventually affecting part of the brain that controls involuntary functions. With this in mind someone with MCI would not be able to make clear judgments and recall memory stored in long term memory. The deterioration of short term and working memory will inhibit a person’s ability to

Attention Getter: Are you tired of being of gaining weight or just feeling sluggish all the time? Do you have health issues? Well exercising can give you good health and psychological advantages.

Research has proven that physical activity improves cognitive function and can also improve brain function throughout a lifespan. Moreover, staying physically active has so many benefits as well. For example, doing exercise and fitness activities help build cells and natural pathways to help reduce changes in memory loss or dementia. Also, it has so many health benefits including long-term improvements to the cognitive function as the young adult reaching mid

Cavanaugh and Blanchard-Fields (2015) state that there is research showing how brain plasticity can be enhanced through aerobic exercise (p.51). It is important that adults be active in their lives. A 30-minute walk or some type of physical activity will benefit them as the age. The text mentions a study done by Erickson and his colleagues in 2009 where they studied the effect of aerobic exercise on the hippocampus. They found that due to aerobic exercise it produced greater volume in the hippocampus. This is significant because the hippocampus is the part of the brain that is responsible for memory, emotions, and spatial functioning. The body does not only need physical activities to produce healthier cognitive functioning but also nutrients. The text identifies three nutrient biomarker patterns that are significant on the aging brain. These nutrients are vitamin B, C,D, and E, omega-3, and trans fat. the foods that belong to these nutrients are beneficial to the brain. Older adults should make an effort to include these nutrients into their diets. positive impacts these nutrients make are better cognitive functioning and greater brain

Alzheimer’s disease progresses through many stages, ranging from early to severe. Memory problems are normally one of the first warning signs of cognitive loss, possibly due to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. However, some people with memory problems present with a condition called amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People with this condition have more memory problems than normal for people their age, but symptoms are not quite as severe as those seen in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Some researchers have found those people with MCI also present with movement difficulties and problems with sense of smell. The ability of people with MCI to perform daily activities is not significantly impaired. Although, older people with MCI when compared to those without MCI, do go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

Running increases blood flow to the brain including the hippocampus, the key area affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

This stage of AD is characterized by measurable changes in the thinking abilities of the affected individual that are noticeable to the individual and those around them. These changes are mild and do not affect the individual’s ability to perform everyday tasks; however, approximately 50% of individuals who seek medical attention for their MCI symptoms will develop AD dementia in the next three to four years (cite).

In the book Spark, written by Dr. John J. Ratey, he discusses how exercise can positively affect how your brain works. He provides studies and personal experiences to support the claims he makes. I always knew exercise would improve your life but never could have imagined how much it can affect your brain health as well. The chapter I thought spoke the most to me was chapter two, Learning: Grow Your Brain Cells.

Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning which affects an individual’s daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that slowly destroys memory and thinking and the ability to perform simple tasks. There is some research that suggests cognitive training may slow the progression of dementia. Cognitive training challenges a variety of cognitive functions such as attention, memory and speed, which is different to general brain training that people may come across in their daily life (Kanaan et al., 2014). Various limitations

Due to the inconsistency between studies there is no definitive exercise dosage or type that can aid in protection against dementia. However, from the evidence provided it suggests that higher levels of exercise can be used as a neuroprotective mechanism to prevent the onset of

Even though dementia is not always reversible, it can be prevented. There are some cardiovascular factors that can help in prevention and risk reduction. If a blood vessel in your body is damaged, it can damage other blood vessels in your brain. This stops the brain cells of receiving vital food and oxygen. These changes may make impairments more severe. Physical exercise also may lower the risk of getting dementia. Physical exercise may also reduce the risk of getting some types of dementia. It also can benefit brain cells by increasing the flow of oxygen and blood to the

The articles by Erikson et al., Gatz, Korol et al., and Draganski et al. explore the concept of increased physical activity and/or mental activity having effects on the cognitive function and development or deterioration of the brain as we age. Although I agree that physical exercise is critical in increasing cognitive function because of the health benefits it provides, as well as the increased blood flow and circulation throughout the body, I ultimately believe that a healthy brain is not achieved solely by physical exercise or mental exercise, but both. I think there is a link between physical and mental exercise, and that the combination of these two activities creates higher cognitive functioning of the mind as well as the body. The mind and body come together and meet to make an overall healthy individual.