New research suggests that any form of exercise, in combination with the type of food you take and even hobbies like playing the piano, can be enough to promote better cognitive aging.
This demonstrates that a combination of genetics and lifestyle plays a significant role in how our brain ages.
Why is it that some people’s minds keep finely sharp up into old age, while others decline with age ?
Researchers recently found part of the answer in a complex mix of lifestyle and genetic factors determining brain state at old age.
This research, based on Lothian Birth Cohorts in Scotland, found that half of the old-age cognitive gap may be explained by childhood IQ scores.
Adult lifestyle, though, plays an important role-about regular exercise, quitting smoking, and even taking up a new language in which to converse.
Small steps matter,” says one of the co-authors of the study, Simon Cox. “Staying physically and mentally active can add up, but there’s no magic bullet.” These elements all contribute to nearly 20 percent of the differences in variations in cognitive decline among people aged 70 to 82.
The brains also differed significantly in the MRI scan despite their supposed similar ages.
Some of the brains looked more youthful and healthier while the others depicted symptoms characteristic of the effects of aging, including diminished white matter; a critical component used in the functioning of the brain.
Dr. Richard Isaacson, a researcher, emphasizes the value of preventative health measures. “Be aware of your numbers,” he says, stressing the importance of checking routinely blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels as these factors might affect brain function.
Simple lifestyle changes like eating a heart-healthy diet, practicing meditation, and placing high value on social relationships may also promote cognitive longevity, allowing more people to age with healthier and more acute minds.
