Don't Want to Lose Your Memory in Old Age? This Simple Habit Can Save You from That

As we age, our cognitive functions begin to decline. The changes in our bodies that come with aging cannot be stopped. However, there are ways to delay and slow them down. Regular physical activity is often talked about as a factor. New research suggests that exercise can counteract neurodegenerative processes.

A few simple steps can help keep your brain in good shape . A good diet, adequate sleep and stimulating the "grey cells" through various games and puzzles help. Movement also plays a huge role. Researchers have found evidence that it has a beneficial effect on memory and cognitive functions.

Special brain cells responsible for the body's response to insulin are activated after exercise , researchers from Rutgers University in New Brunswick in the US have found. These conclusions, published in the journal Aging Cell, were drawn after conducting an experiment on a group of older adults. The tests were conducted on 21 people with an average age of 60. All of them struggled with prediabetes. They were put on a two-week program that included regular exercise sessions.

The seniors underwent twelve hour-long training sessions. Before and after each session, they took a special glucose drink. Later, blood taken from the participants was analyzed. As it turned out, the exercises increased the number of neuronal vesicles that transport proteins that affect insulin sensitivity. The activity of the Akt protein was particularly noticeable.

SEE: Constant stress can trick your brain, study shows impact on hearing

Why is this study so important? Lead author Steven Malin said it suggests that physical activity can improve memory and cognitive function. This is due to the increased ability of insulin to affect the brain. The expert noted that this hormone is increasingly recognized as important for this organ due to its impact on mental processes. Meanwhile, in people with prediabetes, its levels may be insufficient, which increases the risk of developing dementia.

In addition, insulin is crucial for memory processes, recall, speed of information processing, and proper functioning of synapses, which allow brain cells to communicate. As Steven Malin emphasized, when it is lacking, "brain cells become potentially dysfunctional."

iStock

- Our research indicates that therapies targeting insulin action in the brain may be effective in preventing dementia - said the researcher.

SEE: The Pope's fruit. Doctors recommend it for the heart, but in Poland, few people eat it

Although physical activity has long been suspected to have a positive effect on cognitive abilities, experts are still unsure of the mechanisms responsible for this. As SciTechDaily writes, previous findings link high blood sugar levels to the rate at which facts are recalled and new ones are learned. Scientists from the American university are not resting on their laurels. They are planning long-term studies that are to provide more comprehensive knowledge on the impact of exercise training on the functioning of the senior brain.