Remember to exercise and exercise to remember

Most of the information contained in my previous columns has related to diseases, conditions, symptoms and treatments for a vast array of orthopedic maladies. We have explored how to keep our “senior” bodies healthy by exercises and stretching, in an effort to help make the inevitable aging process less painful and injury-prone.

But there’s one more body part that we haven’t paid proper due as yet – the brain. You know, the “melon.” The “memory vault.” The “noodle.” The “bean,” The “noggin?”

Whether or not we realize it, and whether or not we can accept it, the brain is also a body part that needs to be continually exercised.

While many over-50ers strive daily to maintain and improve their physical health, which is very good, all too often less attention is paid to the brain/mind and its capacity to improve from exercise.

Now, wait…watching more old episodes of “The Andy Griffith Show” may spur pleasant thoughts of yesteryear, and watching more of “The Weather Channel” may keep you drier. I’m talking about brain-specific exercise.

Here’s the neat thing – there are innumerable ways to stimulate and improve the health of your brain. After all, it’s aging right along with your hips, knees and waistline.

Oliver Sacks, M.D. is a physician, best-selling author and professor of neurology and psychiatry at Columbia University. He’s written several books, including “Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain,” and “Awakenings.” His work with “Awakenings” was the inspiration for the movie that starred Robin Williams and Robert De Niro.

The book, “Musicophelia” explores the ways the brain interacts with music. Dr. Sacks also believes that music may be capable of actually healing many patients with Tourette syndrome and Parkinson’s disease. Another author and neuropsychiatrist, Dr. Richard Restak, advocates brain exercises to “tone” that muscle between your ears. In his latest book, “Think Smart,” Restak explains the difference between “working memory” and “general memory” and how it can apply to brain-enhancing activities.

Physical exercise, in general, has a beneficial impact on memory and brain function. So, remember to exercise and exercise to remember. In an article in AARP Magazine dated August 2008, author Heather Boemer offered 50 “Everyday Ways to Stay Sharp.” Some of these exercises include, “Snack on almonds and blueberries instead of a candy bar,” “Ballroom dance like the stars,” “Listen for details when a friend tells a story,” and “Sip red wine, judiciously.”

Here are some more suggestions: take an adult education class, include brain-healthy foods in your daily diet and walk. Walking for as little as 2-1/2 hours per week can significantly improve memory. This finding resulted from an 18-month study conducted by the University of Western Australia of 170 men and women over age 50 who reported experiencing memory problems but did not meet the criteria for dementia. They were divided into two groups. One group continued with usual activities while the other group participated in a 24-week home-based physical activity program that encouraged participants to walk for 50 minutes three times a week.

At the end of the six-month trial period, participants in the exercise group scored better on cognitive and memory tests. Those results stayed the same in the exercise group when they were retested at six and 12 months later. The study was published Sept. 3, 2008 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

So, keep exercising those biceps, calves and gluteal muscles, but remember that “muscle” up top there…it needs exercise too

For more information on what was covered here, go to http://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/ 

Chisholm’s expertise in nursing, orthopedics and surgery spans more than 30 years. For more information on orthopedic-related topics, visit www.bone-and-joint-pain.com. Submit questions or comments to Ken at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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