Exercising when you’re young improves memory later in life

By Ayotunde Adeyeri, MD

Board-certified Laparoscopic, Bariatric and General Surgeon

Like it or not, as we age we lose our short-term memory. But several new studies have all discovered that simply by exercising regularly when you are still young can help keep your brain sharper later in life while also helping to ward off obesity-related diseases ─ heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea ─ as you get older.

Simple clinical study yields big results

The National Institute on Aging study is a great example: 1,400 men and women walked regularly on a treadmill while researchers measured their physical fitness. Over a period of 18 years, participants took a series of memory and cognition tests.

 Researchers found that older adults with a higher fitness level when they were young made significantly fewer errors on memory tests than those with lower fitness levels earlier in life.

Yet again, scientific studies prove that taking time every day to work out─ even if you are enjoying the throes of youth and are not a pound overweight ─ can offer big benefits later in life.

Exercise now to reap big rewards later in life

Young and carefree right now? Great (I am jealous). Just know that time marches on, for all of us. Take time now to work out and try to eat right most of the time. There will be big rewards waiting for you in the coming decades.

About Dr. Adeyeri:

Dr. A. Adeyeri is a board-certified, University of Rochester fellowship-trained advanced laparoscopic, bariatric and general surgeon. He is medical director at Sterling Surgicare; medical director of the Institute for Weight Loss, Raritan Bay Medical Center; and co-medical director at Central Jersey Bariatrics. Dr. Adeyeri is on staff at Raritan Bay Medical Center, CentraState Medical Center and Bayshore Community Hospital.

To schedule a surgical consultation at his offices in Holmdel, Old Bridge or Freehold, call (732) 217 – 3897 or visit sterlingsurgicare.com.