Gen Wright

Stay Sharp As a Tack With Strength Training

A fear of losing our marbles as we age is well grounded in statistics, with Alzheimer's disease being the fourth leading cause of death in those over 60.

The extent of the expected epidemic is massive as more than 26 million people worldwide already have the disease, a number projected to quadruple by 2050 and the effects on society will be staggering. In 2011, the baby boomer age group will fuel this crisis as they start turning 65, the age of greatest risk for Alzheimer's. Although the onset of symptoms can start as young as 40 and continue for about 20 years before severe symptoms - such as loss of memory and personality and inability to carry out normal tasks show.

Traditional health care has promoted the concept that it is entirely normal and acceptable to experience declines in mental performance as we age but research is uncovering a link between physical inactivity and declining mental health. It is now known that healthy adults can continue to build their brain and expand their mind at any age.

Any age-related loss of memory or motor skills is generally the result of inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle as historically activity levels decline in relation to a person's age. The good news is we now know there are things we can do to keep our brain healthier as we age reducing our risk of this most feared threat to our mental health.

When we think about keeping strong and fit we generally think from the neck down. Since the brain is part of the body, physical strength affects the effectiveness of the operation of the brain. Since it controls all life systems brain health plays a critical role in almost everything we do - thinking, remembering, working, feeling, playing and even sleeping. The brain also influences susceptibility to illness and the ability to repair damage and injury, including normal wear and tear.

Although the brain is the "muscle" of conscious intelligence it is just like the other muscles in the rest of the body. It develops and gains strength during youth, reaches a peak, and then can either be maintained over the rest of your life, or be allowed to degenerate and lose capability and function. The brain exhibits a" use it" or "lose it" scenario just like your muscles do.

Strength training exercises increase significant amounts of blood flow to the brain bringing more oxygen and needed nutrients to allow it to work more effectively. The release of growth factors also nourishes and maintains the health of brain cells. This in turn leads to better memory, improved intellectual capacity and productivity.

Strength training exercises can also go a long way towards helping improve brain health, by strengthening the cardiovascular system that can reduce the risk of, and even prevent, heart attacks and strokes that can cause brain damage. A new study suggests that being very active can stimulate brain cell growth and lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by 30 - 40%

No matter our age, a proper exercise program that includes at least 60% strength training exercise allows us to take more responsibility for our own health and a more proactive role in our own care. This will go a long way to make us less doctor dependent, more motivated, creative, healthier, saner, and happier people with vibrant brain power.

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