New Research Shows Intense Exercise Could Help Patients With Memory Loss
By Lynne Adkins
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- We know exercise is good for the heart, now research shows it could help your memory as well.
Working up a sweat during regular aerobic activity can help your memory once it starts to slip according to new research from Copenhagen.
Dr. Marcia Halpern, Associate Professor of Neurology at Temple University School of Medicine says these findings are encouraging.
"It's very exciting to have further support of what we've been telling our patients for some time the idea that exercise is healthy for the heart has been long-established, and the idea that it would be healthy for the brain is not surprising."
Halpern warns intense, physical activity may not be possible for everyone with memory loss.
"A lot of these patients are elderly so they have arthritis, they have cardiac issues and they have balance issues, so it has to be tailored for the individual, with the patient's physicians guidance, many can do aerobic exercises."
The research shows that taking part in moderate to intense physical activity several times a week increases blood flow to key parts of the brain used for memory and thought processing.
