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Weightlifting for Brain Power

Strength training builds muscle and may also be good for the brain. A study from British Columbia compared the results of three different exercise regimens in women between 70 and 80 years of age. All the participants had mild cognitive impairment at the outset of the study. One group was randomly assigned to do weight training with supervision. Another group did aerobic exercise by walking outdoors and a third group did basic balance and tone. After six months, the women who did resistance training twice a week tested better on attention and memory than the other women. MRI images showed improved brain function as well. The investigators suggest that twice-weekly resistance training tailored to older participants shows promise in slowing cognitive decline in the elderly.

[Archives of Internal Medicine, April 23, 2012]

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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