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Senior Citizens Can Save Their Memory by Exercising
Bodies and Brains - New Study
Stress reduction and diet also cited as helping
memory
Dec. 12, 2005 A study released today says senior
citizens can not only improve their aging bodies with exercise but that
by adding memory exercises to their routine they can also preserve their
memory.
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Read more on:
● Fitness
● Aging |
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The research was presented at the American College
of Neuropsychopharmacology's Annual Meeting. It found that older
Americans may improve their memory by making simple lifestyle changes
including memory exercises, physical fitness, healthy eating and stress
reduction.
"We've known for years that diet and exercise can
help people maintain their physical health, which is a key component of
healthy aging," says lead investigator, Gary Small, M.D., Professor of
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of
Medicine at UCLA.
"But maintaining mental health is just as
important. Now we have evidence which suggests that people can preserve
their memory by adding memory exercises and stress reduction to this
routine."
The study was the first to test the impact of
combining memory exercises and stress reduction with a healthy diet and
exercise to improve memory.
In the 14-day study, subjects with normal baseline
memory performance scores were randomly assigned to two groups (sample
size of 17 individuals). In the test group, subjects following a memory
improvement plan which included:
● Memory Training Brainteasers, crossword
puzzles and memory exercises, which emphasized verbal skills, were
conducted throughout the day to stimulate the brain.
● Healthy Diet Participants ate five meals
daily, which included a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fats, low-glycemic
index carbohydrates (e.g., whole grains) and antioxidants. Eating five
small meals throughout the day prevents dips in blood glucose levels and
glucose is the primary energy source for the brain.
● Physical Fitness Brisk daily walks and
stretching were done daily to promote physical fitness, which has been
found to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's Disease.
● Stress Reduction Participants used
stretching and relaxation exercises to manage stress. Stress causes the
body to release cortisol, which plays an important role in memory
preservation. Cortisol can impair memory and has been found to shrink
the memory centers in the brain.
In the control group, subjects did not make any
behavior modifications.
Immediately before and after the 14-day study, each
participant's brain function was tested using positron emission
tomorgraphy (PET) scans to measure activity throughout the brain.
After
the 14-day study, participants following the memory improvement plan
recorded a 5% decrease in brain metabolism in the dorsal lateral
prefrontal region of the brain, which is directly linked to working
memory and other cognitive functions, suggesting that they were using
their brain more efficiently. Furthermore, these subjects reported
improved memory, and demonstrated better performance on a cognitive
measure controlled by this same brain region.
"Most people do not realize that they are in
control of their memory as they get older," declared Dr. Small, "But
this research demonstrates that it is possible, in just 14 days, to make
simple lifestyle changes that will not only improve memory and brain
function, but also will improve overall health and wellness."
The next step in this research is to better
understand the specific effect of each individual component of the
memory improvement plan to determine which combination of healthy
lifestyle strategies produces optimal results.
The study was conducted at the University of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and funded by the Fran and Ray Stark
Foundation Fund for Alzheimer's Disease Research, the Judith Olenick
Elgart Fund for Research on Brain Aging, and the Parlow-Solomon
Professorship on Aging.
About source:
ACNP is holding its Annual Meeting December 11-15,
2005, in Waikoloa, Hawaii.
ACNP, founded in 1961, is a professional
organization of more than 700 leading scientists, including three Nobel
Laureates. The mission of ACNP is to further research and education in
neuropsychopharmacology and related fields in the following ways:
promoting the interaction of a broad range of scientific disciplines of
brain and behavior in order to advance the understanding of prevention
and treatment of disease of the nervous system including psychiatric,
neurological, behavioral and addictive disorders; encouraging scientists
to enter research careers in fields related to these disorders and their
treatment; and ensuring the dissemination of relevant scientific
advances. A non-profit organization, ACNP receives revenues from a
variety of sources including membership dues, publication sales,
registration fees, and pharmaceutical industry grants.
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