Straight
Talk from Al Jacobs
HEALTH
AND EXERCISE
The
American Academy of Neurology (AAM), a professional society established in 1948
representing over 34,000 neurologists and neuroscientists, reports no less than
2.4 million Americans are believed to suffer from mild cognitive impairment
(MCI), a condition in which memory and thinking skills are reduced in otherwise
healthy persons of all ages. Perhaps even more unsettling is that the
prevalence of this condition increases with age as it often becomes a gateway
to Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Although
there’s not yet an established treatment for AD, there may be better news for
sufferers of MCI, for recent studies by mental health researchers reveals
“exercising twice a week may help preserve memory and thinking skills in people
with MCI.” You should note this particular malady shares one commonality with
Alzheimer’s, in that for both ailments “there are no pharmacologic or dietary
agents currently shown to have symptomatic cognitive benefits” and that “no
medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for that purpose.”
One other bit of evidence to add is a single line from a 2011 report by the
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) division of the
National Institutes of Health, stating “Physical activity is associated with a
reduced risk of AD.”
These
almost obscure observations cause me to link the two ailments together and to propose
both a possible cause and logical treatment for them. As for a possible cause,
it seems obvious: As we age, with a reduction in physical activity and a
slowdown in metabolism, blood flows more slowly and deposits accumulate on the
blood vessel walls. And as less blood flows through the two carotid arteries, the
supply of oxygen to the brain is reduced. Could it be this reduced oxygen to
the brain is one cause of MIC in younger persons and AD in oldsters? This
could, of course, account for the improvement in both instances from exercise
which, if nothing else, increases the flow of blood throughout the body and
with it an increased oxygenation.
As
for the treatment, it’s equally straightforward: Cardiovascular exercise should
be participated in throughout a person’s lifetime. With this said, let me offer
a testimonial: Over the decades I’ve maintained, now well into my 80’s, a daily
schedule of an hour of continuous swimming. Perhaps it’s just coincidence, but
everything – including the brain – seems to be working well. You may take that
for what it’s worth.
Al Jacobs, a professional investor for nearly a half-
century, issues a monthly
newsletter in which he
shares his financial
knowledge and experience.
You may view it on http://www.roadwaytoprosperity.com
No comments:
Post a Comment