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Physical activity can protect brain as we age: Study

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Muskan K
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Physical activity can protect brain as we age: Study
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Washington, March 14: Researchers have found that physical activity can help protect cognitive abilities as we age. The findings of the study were published in the journal 'Sport Sciences for Health'. "This is saying if you get more steps, if you're moving around your environment a little bit more, that can be helpful to your brain health and keep you more independent as you age," she added.
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ITBP officer killed, jawan injured in IED Naxal blast in Chhattisgarh"This finding isn't saying, 'If you're older, you need to go out there and start running marathons,'" said Marissa Gogniat, lead author of the study and a recent doctoral graduate in psychology from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Also read | Canada: Five Indian students killed in car crash near Toronto The study followed 51 older adults, tracking their physical activity and fitness measurements. The participants performed tests specifically designed to measure cognitive functioning and underwent MRIs to assess brain functioning. They also wore a device that measured the intensity of the wearer's physical activity, number of steps taken and distance covered. The researchers assessed fitness through a six-minute walking test, during which participants walked as quickly as they could to cover the most distance possible within the time limit.
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Physical-activity,-brain-functioning-linked-3 "We've always been told it's good to exercise, but I think this is some evidence that exercise can actually change your brain," Gogniat said. "And that impacts the way you're able to function in your daily life." The brain is made up of a bunch of distinct networks. Those networks are in constant communication, sending information to each other. publive-image But different parts of the brain are active at different times. While one of these networks is active, the other should be shut off. If it's not, that's a sign that a person's brain isn't functioning as well as it should be. Also read | ITBP officer killed, jawan injured in IED Naxal blast in Chhattisgarh These networks are the key to being able to perform basic tasks in daily life, such as remembering important information and exhibiting self-control. But as people age, these tasks often become more difficult. Physical-activity,-brain-functioning-linked-4 This study was the first to examine how these networks interact with physical activity and fitness to impact how the brain functions. -PTC News-
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