Exercise Benefits for the Elderly

Posted by: Curt | Under: 40's/fit, 50's/fit, General Fitness, Health, Seniors/fit, Spiritual/Emotional | (0) Comments

We have all experienced the sensation of feeling sharper and more alert after exercise and some new research shows that it helps elderly people as well. This is common sense since exercise increases blood flow throughout the body and especially to the brain.

Brisk walking led to slight improvements on mental tests for older people with memory problems in what is billed as the first rigorous test of exercise on the aging brain.

The results from the small Australian study were only modest. But they back up observational studies showing potential mental benefits from physical activity.

The effects of exercise were at least as good, if not better, than those seen with drugs approved to aid mental function in Alzheimer’s disease, according to experts not involved in the study.

My mother, who is in her mid 70’s always feels better after her water aerobics class. The benefits are more far reaching than just mental sharpness, though. They also include better flexibility, less muscle stiffness and atrophy as well as relief from some symptoms of arthritis. So if you have an older person in your family, get them signed up for some sort of exercise program at the local YMCA/YWCA. It will really make a big difference in their life.