Increase Your Daily Movement to Avoid Age-Related Brain Shrinkage

Scientists have linked physical exercise to brain health for many years. Physical exercise helps build a brain that not only resists shrinkage, but also increases its cognitive abilities.  Exercise promotes neurogenesis, which is the brain's ability to adapt and grow new brain cells. Physical activity produces biochemical changes that strengthen and renew not only your body, but also your brain. This is especially true for the brain regions associated with memory and learning.

The opposite is also true, which is that a sedentary lifestyle correlates to brain shrinkage, which increases your risk of memory loss and other cognitive problems.

For Optimal Health, Get More Non-Exercise Movement Into Your Day:

Eighty percent of Americans fail to meet the recommended amount of exercise. If you fall into this category, you may be happy to learn that there is new evidence that suggests that that non-exercise movement may actually be even more important than a regular exercise program. Even if you’re a fit athlete who exercises regularly, you may still endanger your health simply by sitting too much.

Research has demonstrated that six hours of uninterrupted sitting counteracts the positive health benefits of one hour of exercise, so part of the foundation for good health is to engage in relatively constant or regular movement.

Of course, the optimal situation is to get regular exercise and regular movement.

Standing & Walking are the Two Keys Components of Non-Exercise Movement:

You can look at non-exercise movement as a two-part equation involving:

1. Avoiding sitting as much as possible during the day. Just standing up produces beneficial biological effects, including improved blood flow, which is as important for your brain as it is for the rest of your body.

2. Walking more, ideally 7,000 to 10,000 steps or about one hour per day. A fitness tracker can be a great tool to help you reach your goal on a daily basis and every step counts.

3. There are many creative ways to get more walking into each day, from parking your car further away from your destination; taking the stairs instead of the elevator; conducting walking meetings; or walking rather than driving when you go out to lunch.

Move it or lose it!

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