Exercise Your Middle-Age Memory Back In Shape!

Well, I know it's been a while since I've posted anything new, dear readers. I thank you for your patience.  I have been doing some personal research on the middle-age memory issue.  Would you like to know what I've discovered?

Well, I discovered that planning your parents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration, along with your own wedding both of which take place within a month of each other; starting back to work part-time after three years of being off, all the while navigating general life issues in between such as your washer breaking and having to lug laundry around town for a month, death in the family and other various and sundry matters, does not help the middle memory issue at all!  

My research has lead me to conclude that the primary cause of middle-age memory issues has more to do with this being the most diversely busiest time of life ever!  EVER!

While everything so far has been a success, there are small details along the way that simply get forgotten.  But all in all, it is an exciting and challenging time of life!

Seriously though, I was pleased to discover that, while memory loss is certainly part of the aging process, it is manageable and even possibly reversable according to a recent study at Columbia University.

How do we help ourselves?

Exercise.  Plain and simple.

Exercise boosts brain power.

According to the article:

  

Tests on mice have shown them to grow new brain cells in a brain region called the dentate gyrus, a part known to be affected in the age-related memory decline that begins around age 30 for most humans.

 The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging scans to help document the process in mice - and then used MRIs to look at the brains of people before and after exercise.

They found the same patterns, which suggests that people also grow new brain cells when they exercise.

Now we have a new motivation for exercising these middle age bodies!  Reduce or reverse memory loss!

According to the study, the more fit people got, the more blood flow was sent to the dentate gyrus and the more their memory improved! 

What's next in the study?

"Our next step is to identify the exercise regimen that is most beneficial to improve cognition and reduce normal memory loss, so that physicians may be able to prescribe specific types of exercise to improve memory," Small said.

So, if you find yourself walking into a room forgetting what you went in there for, putting milk in the cupboard instead of the fridge, forgetting who you just dialed on the phone...then dust off those dumbbells, stop using your treadmill for storage, oil up that bicycle and pump up the tires, and start exercising and growing new brain cells!

Oh, and maybe slow down a little too on the busy-ness.  I'm hoping after my wedding next week to see some significant improvement in my memory. 

Gee...I hope I remember to show up to the church on the right day and time.... 

I'll let ya know how it comes out!