New study may add incentive to getting fit

Middle-age fitness provides long-term health benefits

A new study could give middle-aged women even more incentive to stay fit.

The study, which was conducted in Sweden, found that women who were highly fit in mid-life were nearly 90 percent less likely to get dementia, according to a report in USA Today.

The study followed the group of women for 44 years, but was fairly small, studying only 144 women.

Still, the results were promising, and indicated that physical fitness and activity play a key role in reducing one’s risk of Alzheimer’s.

The researchers interviewed by USA Today noted that avoiding smoking, getting exercise and sleep and eating a healthy diet all help prevent Alzheimer’s — and also help prevent cardiovascular disease.

The study would indicate that the key to reaping the most benefits from those activities is to start earlier in life.

However, when one is in one’s 20s, it’s easy to push off such commitments, because when one is young, conversations such as “heart problems” and “memory issues” fall on deaf ears. After all, youth is invincible.

In one’s 30s and 40s, “healthy heart” and “Alzheimer’s” start to take on a little more weight, but can get lost in the chaos of work commitments, family, children and more.

As one ages, one starts to consider those health issues as one hears about challenges friends and family members face, and one notices one’s own body start to face its own issues.

But the reality is, the sooner one starts to be proactive on one’s health, the better the benefits — and that means taking control in one’s younger years.

And, regardless of one’s age, there are a myriad of benefits to be had from regular exercise.

There’s no better time to get started than today. So talk to your doctor, and get moving. Your body — and your future self — will thank you.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS OR NOT?