Exercising for three hours a week might keep you mentally young. In a small study, researchers at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill did brain scans of two groups of seven men and women between the ages of 60 and 80. The group that reported having gotten three or more hours of exercise per week for the past 10 years had more small-diameter blood vessels in the brain and less blood vessel “twisting” than their inactive peers. (Blood vessel loss and “crookedness” are two indications of aging in the brain.) It wasn’t clear whether physical activity caused the younger-looking brains or those with “younger” brains just enjoyed exercise. But the study lays the foundation for research to show whether older adults who start an exercise program can turn back the hands of time.
Source: American Journal of Neuroradiology, July 9, 2009

Don’t Forget: People with diabetes should check with a doctor before making big changes to an exercise plan.