| Walking helps forge brain paths |
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| Written by Andrew Steckling, Daily Vidette Senior Staff |
| Wednesday, 02 December 2009 03:52 |
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Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco have found cognitive benefits in older women who walk regularly. The sample of about 6,000 women aged 65 and older showed the majority were less prone to memory loss and other cognitive issues. Kelly Laurson, professor for the School of Kinesiology and Recreation, said the strength of the link between physical activity and cognitive function is growing in the literature. “It is believed that physical activity improves blood flow to the brain and increases brain vascularization,” he said. “In turn, this increases brain metabolism and generates new synapses. The overall effect is an improvement or maintenance of cognitive function.” Jim Almeda, health educator for Student Health Services, has seen other studies that show exercise in general improving memory and cognitive performance across a variety of age groups.  “I can understand their reasoning in researching the effects of walking on older individuals, but I have seen different age groups benefit from a constant exercise rate,” he said. Laurson and Almeda both said walking is the most commonly referred exercise because it’s the most accessible. “It doesn’t require expensive equipment or a high level of skill. Further, it’s easy to incorporate activity via walking throughout the day,” Laurson said. “For example, instead of driving or riding the bus, individuals can walk for transportation and accumulate daily physical activity.” He said constant walking can help increase cardiovascular fitness, greatly reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as avoiding weight gain and aiding in the maintenance of bone mineral density, which can help prevent osteoporosis. There is currently a team of researchers on campus involved in a study trying to show a relationship between students with higher cardiovascular fitness and higher academic performance. Almeda said students, especially during this week as they prepare for final examinations, should really utilize some form of exercise. “Students are busy trying to prepare for tests and getting their projects, and it’s creating a lot of stress. This stress can break down the immune system and even cause students to receive less sleep than normal, which can in turn hurt them academically,” he said. “Regular physical activity can help combat the stress and even result in better sleeping habits. If you sleep more, you feel better, and you will do better academically.” The current physical activity minimum recommendation for adults is 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, or roughly 30 minutes per day at least five days a week. In addition, a 10,000-step count is average in individuals working towards increased cognitive activity. “Previous research has shown that individuals that meet the 10,000 step per day goal usually also accumulate the 30 minutes of moderate activity that day,” he said. A brisk walk can count as the activity, or splitting up the 30 minutes into three 10-minute sessions is also acceptable. Students who currently walk as a form of exercise or students interested in keeping track of the number of steps taken per day can purchase a pedometer from SHS at $1 a piece. |
