The Train Station/

Reverse aging in the brain?

Yes, we have heard that exercise can stave off or delay dementia — but did you know that regular cardio workouts can actually reverse aging in the brain? Last week the New York Times reported that “a team from the University of Illinois’ Beckman Institute reviewed dozens of past studies and found that aerobic exercise boosts not only speed and sharpness of thought but also the volume of brain tissue.” This is a quite extraordinary finding. Exercise has so many benefits to your health and well-being and to realize that you are actually building and increasing brain size makes perfect sense.

Exercise Tip: As little as 40 minutes of brisk walking 3 times a week can have this brain-expanding effect. For an added boost, walk in the park: University of Michigan researchers, in a recent study, found that “volunteers whose course took them through a tree-filled setting performed 20 percent better on memory and attention tests than those who walked downtown.” And remember to drink water before, during, and after you workout.