Exercise now — to help your memory

EXERCISING when you are young may help you preserve a good memory in later life, say scientists.

When researchers tested the memory of a fear response in rats, they found that after four months those that were able to run from one month of age had a better memory and more active nerve cells (neurons) in the brain than those kept in a cage without a running wheel. It adds to the belief that the brain can build up a reserve of cells that help protect against the structural decline of age.

The findings, reported in the journal eNeuro, may help to find a way to prevent brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease in the future.