New York University neuroscientists study that going for a bike ride or brisk walk is a sufficient way to boost your brain health and increase brain activity and power.
Dr Wendy Suzuki, a neuroscientist at New York University, said that the best thing you can do for your brain is physical activity which is the most transformative thing you can do to make your brain healthy.
According to Dr Wendy Suzuki, Giving a walk to your body or every time you move your body, will help to release the whole bunch of neurochemicals, I would call it a neurochemical bubble bath for your brain power.
it can help produce new brain cells in the hippocampus and avoid brain atrophy, a hallmark of dementia.
Exercise also helps to increase synapses in the prefrontal cortex, this function of this area is to process information and contextualise. This enhancement further involves boosting our ability to make decisions, reason and express ourselves.
Studies showed that as the ageing America’s population frequently grows, so will the rates of dementia. Presently, an estimated 5.8 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. that is the most common kind of dementia. People who are over 65 have dementia. The study showed by 2050, 13 million are projected to have dementia.
Furthermore, Dr Suzuki shared that today through moving your body, exercise helps you to grow a big, healthy, fluffy brain.
She suggested aerobic exercise which helps increase your heart rate up to four or three times weekly for about 30 minutes each.
The CDC’s official exercise guidelines suggest that give your body physical activity to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, or roughly 20 minutes per day. Importantly, in that duration, the agency suggested two days must be given to muscle-strengthening exercises. Despite so much research and benefits of body exercise Americans are not getting enough exercise. According to data released by the CDC in January 2023, only 28 per cent of adults 18 years and older fulfil aerobic and strength muscle guidelines for weekly physical activity.
there is a link between low physical activity and a high risk of dementia found in a 2017 study in this Journal of Gerontology series. They supervise MRI scans on roughly 2,000 people 60 years older and above. Research showed that people with high activity had larger hippocampal volumes compared to those with low activity.
The most significant finding was that the protective effect of high activity was also seen in over 75 aged people. providing evidence it’s never too late to start. The research found that completing house chores saw a benefit in people, they had a 21 per cent lower risk of dementia.
In addition to physical activity, Dr. Suzuki recommended several actions to take that will help the proper functioning of your brain. She recommended eight hours per night of sleep, combating anxiety and stress through meditation and breathing exercises, having a strong connection and taking a diet rich in omega fatty acids and proteins.
Sleeping allows the brain to eliminate the wastes of the day, like dead cells and leftover proteins that are left after the natural metabolic process. We are social animals, and need social connection, as it helps to increase memory and mood. Food is also important for proper brain functioning and boosts brain health. The foods she recommended were milk yoghurt, carrots, and tomatoes.
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