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Can you lower your future risk of stroke? Is there a link between activity and your future brain?
Many (but not all) studies suggest the answer is yes. The leisure-time activity appears associated with a lower risk of dementia. We have fewer data regarding other physical activity forms. Today, I want to share with you some recent results from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. First, a brief review of some reasons you should get some physical activity.
We begin with some definitions:
- Physical activity. Physical activity is body movement made by contracting muscles that increase your energy expenditure. There are many physical activity forms, including household, occupational, leisure time, and transportation types.
- Exercise. This subset of physical activity is purposeful and structured.
Does physical activity improve mortality? Unfortunately, we do not have long-term results from randomized trials of exercise for heart disease risk-reduction or death in a healthy population.
Several extensive observational studies hint at an association between regular exercise and reductions in mortality. Both recreational and non-recreational physical activities are associated with this improvement. The benefits of physical activity are dose-dependent. I generally ask my patients to aim for a minimum of 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise. For example, walking briskly for 30 minutes for five days per week is a reasonable goal.
Let’s examine some of the many benefits you may experience with physical activity:
- Lower risk of chronic diseases (lower your future risk of stroke, cancer, and heart attack)
- Blood pressure drop
- Weight management
- Memory and other brain function improvement
- Better sleep
- Anxiety and depression symptom improvement
- Longer life
Mid-Life Leisure Activity and Future Stroke Risk
Is physical activity in mid-life associated with a lower risk of stroke later in life? To better understand the relationship between mid-life leisure activity and brain structure later in life, researchers recently looked at data from 1,604 participants. The investigators quantified leisure-time physical activity using a past-year recall.
An interviewer offered a questionnaire at baseline and 25 years later. The researchers characterized leisure-time physical activity as low, middle, or high.
When the subjects reached late life, the researchers had the subjects undergo a brain MRI. This imaging study looked for abnormalities in the brain as well as grey matter volume. The grey matter includes brain regions involved in muscle control and sensory perception, such as seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decision making, and self-control.
Go here to learn more how you can lower your future risk of stroke:
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