Walking "Study" Illustrates Benefit
You'll find lots of news and feature articles that connect physical activity and improved mental alertness. Many might say that exercising your body as well as your mind just makes good sense if you want to be a healthy and active person. You've no doubt heard the phrase: "Use it or lose it."
One research study clearly illustrated this concept, as published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The study included 5,925 predominantly white community-dwelling women aged 65 years or older, who were without any mental impairment (at baseline). The results showed that women with a greater physical activity (measured by walking and climbing stairs) were "less likely" to experience mental decline during the six to eight years of follow-up.
As noted in the study results, the risk for mental decline in these women decreased by 13 percent for every 10 blocks walked a day.
Statistics like these can get your attention. And, if walking helps women, then won't it help men, too? We can read studies, make assumptions and "talk about" all the good things exercise will do for the human body, BUT...we'll never enjoy the benefits of physical exercise until we make it part of our daily life.
| Our Retiree Tips Archives offers you the chance to revisit many topics of interest. Please review our previous articles on walking and exercise for more information. Physical Fitness - It's All in the Mind (August 2005) The Benefits of Walking (April 2005) |