"Sneaker Trick" FIGHTS Cognitive Decline
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted July 22, 2023
I hear it from folks all the time. They aren’t afraid of dying.
But losing their MIND? Well, THAT terrifies them.
The last thing they want is to become a burden to their family.
I get it because I feel the same way. I’m guessing you might too.
And that means you’ll want to take steps to KEEP your brain in tip-top condition as you age.
New research reveals one of the BEST ways to do JUST that.
And it’s accomplished by focusing on the opposite end of your body… your FEET!
Keeping your brain firing on all cylinders requires maintaining strong connections between brain networks.
Chances are you’ve never heard of these networks before. But they’re VITAL for proper brain function.
You see, your brain is a super-complicated organ made up of BILLIONS of nerve cells called neurons. These cells use electrical and chemical messages to talk to each other.
Together, those neurons form networks that—when linked—accomplish CRITICAL tasks.
Now a new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports has uncovered an unexpectedly powerful tool for keeping these networks communicating effectively.
According to researchers, the key is your FEET. Because it turns out regularly walking does the trick.
That’s right, simply taking a stroll several days a week strengthens the connections in and between brain networks.
For the study, researchers recruited 33 older adults aged 71 to 85. Roughly half had normal cognition, and the other half had mild cognitive impairment (a slight decline in mental abilities like memory, reasoning, and judgment).
Participants walked on a treadmill four days a week for 12 weeks.
Before and after the 12 weeks, they evaluated the volunteer’s cognition using a test in which they read a short story and then recalled as many details as possible.
Their brain networks were then assessed using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine.
After 12 weeks of walking four days a week, the scientists found the volunteers had SIGNIFICANT improvements in their story recall abilities.
Plus, their brain activity showed stronger and more synchronized communication between brain networks.
In other words, the exercise triggered the participant’s brain’s ability to change and adapt, according to the study’s principal investigator.
And that means taking a daily walk could be the key to preventing or stabilizing cognitive impairment and keeping your brain in tip-top working order.
So go ahead and lace up those sneakers and start stepping!
P.S. In a culture where most people judge their worth by how much they get done, it’s easy to see how taking a walk would be considered a waste of time. But NOTHING could be further from the truth. Click here to learn MORE surprising walking benefits.
Source:
“Large-Scale Network Connectivity and Cognitive Function Changes After Exercise Training in Older Adults with Intact Cognition and Mild Cognitive Impairment,” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 399-413, 2023, DOI: 10.3233/ADR-220062
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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