Train Your Body—and Your Brain
According to a recent analysis of nearly 4,500 adults aged 60 and older, published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, five types of exercise were shown to improve cognitive function. The activity categories included resistance training, aerobic exercise, high-intensity interval training, mind–body practices such as Tai Chi and yoga, and hybrid routines that combine multiple approaches. Among them, resistance training emerged as the most effective in supporting global brain health, including memory and attention. Notably, the study found that strength training delivered measurable cognitive benefits with just two 45–60 minute sessions per week over a three-month period.
A Vaccine to Fight Dementia?
It might already exist. Advanced research conducted by Stanford Medicine found that the shingles vaccine may, in fact, do double duty: treating its intended target, and offering protection against developing dementia, lowering the risk by as much as 20%. The findings support a nascent medical hypothesis that viruses impacting the nervous system can negatively affect cognitive functioning. Read more about the groundbreaking study at Stanford News Center.