| Older adults who exercise may reduce risk of developing silent strokes |
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There are many things that need to be taken into consideration when one is entering the age of retirement. Older Americans may be worried about staying financially stable, learning more about insurance for seniors and maintaining their physical well-being. According to research published in the journal Neurology, seniors who regularly engage in moderate-to-intense exercise may reduce their risk of developing small brain lesions, also known as silent strokes. These infarcts are often the first sign of cerebrovascular disease and have been associated with falls, impaired mobility, memory problems and dementia.Lead author Joshua Z. Willey and his team evaluated 1,238 individuals who had never experienced a stroke. Participants answered questions about how often they exercised and were given MRI scans six years later at the age of 70. About 43 percent of the study subjects said that they did not exercise, 36 percent said that they engaged in light physical activity - such as walking and playing golf - and 21 percent reported participating in moderate workouts involving swimming, playing tennis, jogging or hiking. The brain scans revealed that those who exercised were less likely to have small brain lesions. "Encouraging older people to take part in moderate-to-intense exercise may be an important strategy for keeping their brains healthy," Willey concluded. |
