For a number of years we have known that exercise benefits our cardiovascular health, muscle strength, flexibility, bone density, etc. Only recently have we seen that exercise also improves our mental health, boosting our mood and improving our sleep patterns. The big question looming in all of our heads has been, "if I am physically active, will I reduce my risk of developing cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s disease?"

Some very promising news was just published in the Archives of Neurology by a group of Canadian scientists. These scientists studied 4615 men and women who were 65 years of age and free of any cognitive impairment at the start of the study. Five years later the scientists evaluated the study volunteers once again. The results of the study demonstrated that individuals who reported high levels of physical activity at the beginning of the study period had on average a 40 to 50% reduction in the development of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease five years later. The scientists concluded that physical activity could represent an important and potent protective factor for cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.

This study is yet another example of how important physical activity is to physical and mental health as we age!