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How Exercise Helps Protect Your Brain From Cognitive Decline

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Does exercise help protect the brain?   Studies are now directly demonstrating the direct effects of exercise on the white matter brain tissue of older adults.  “The findings strengthen the long-held hypothesis that maintaining or improving fitness levels in old age may protect the brain, the study authors write in their paper—even in people at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease.”  “Older adults with poor fitness levels have more deterioration of white matter in their brains, according to a new study, compared with their fitter peers. White matter deterioration was also linked with a decline in decision-making brain function among adults with early signs of memory loss, suggesting that regular exercise may slow cognitive decline and perhaps even dementia, say the study authors.”

This article can be used with the chapters on biological Psychology as well as issues in aging and health Psychology.

SOURCE

Time, February 6, 2018, by Amanda MacMillan

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://time.com/5162477/exercise-risk-dementia/

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/yxgnm2jj

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•Begin with a discussion of cognitive decline:  dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

•What is the evidence from research that regular exercise has positive effects on cognitive functioning?

•What is the evidence from research that regular exercise has positive effects on brain functioning?

•According to the article, how was the research performed?