QUICK SCIENCE
Study finds that maintaining cognitive health can help sustain physical health
Brain health’s often associated with physical health thanks to myriad reasons, including increased cerebral bloodflow. But recent research by health researcher Matthieu Boisgontier suggests a potential role reversal as we age – that cognitive health sustains physical health.
Boisgontier analysed data from over 100,000 adults from 21 countries aged between 51 and 90, each of whom had completed cognitive assessments and fed back their activity levels five times over a 12-year period. Perhaps not surprisingly, those who exercised least scored the lowest cognitive scores. But interestingly, the inexorable cognitive decline across the board generally preceded a decline in exercise, suggesting the former led to the latter. So, learning a new skill’s always a good one to decelerate cognitive – ergo, physical – decline. The top line? Guitar playing equals a new PB! And don’t neglect your diet. The polyphenols in blueberries, omega-3 in fish and flavonoids in nuts are all shown to nourish your brain.