New research hints that even simple exercise just might help seniors with mild memory problems. The U.S. study compared sedentary older adults assigned aerobic exercises or a simple stretching routine, along with group classes and instructors to keep them engaged. A year later, brain testing showed neither group experienced the decline that’s usual with so-called mild cognitive impairment. Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says when she thinkgs about keeping the brain healthy she thinks of not only exercise but also things like puzzles “that get your brain moving in different ways that it has been in the past, Muller said.” Experts caution more research is needed. While physical activity helps keep healthy brains fit, it’s not clear how much it helps once memory starts to slide.
