Leg Exercises Linked To Better Brain Health

Leg Exercises Linked To Better Brain Health

Researchers at King’s College in London have excellent news for people who like to exercise and stay fit. The physical activity that improves leg power can influence brain health, especially for women.

A study by a team of scientists guided by Dr. Claire Steves revealed that women with muscular legs experience less cognitive decline than those who exercise less or don’t exercise at all. The research brings new hope for women all around the globe. With as little as a daily 30-minute walk, they can manage to stay fit and keep their brains in good shape, as well.

Fit Twins Have Better Memory than Their Unfit Siblings

The study started in 1999 and included 324 British female twins. The scientists have followed an extensive series of health parameters and lifestyle predictors for ten years. The women were tested at the beginning and at the end of the study, to measure their leg and their brain power.

By using twins, the researchers made sure that subjects were sharing common genes and had a similar background from their early lives. This way, there were less external factors that could have influenced the results of the test.

However, the doctors have considered other elements in their research, such as the heart health of the women included in the study. And the conclusion was that the leg strength is what gives you the right clues about your brain health.

After a study that took ten years, scientists found a direct connection between having powerful leg muscles and brain health. The tests and measures showed that aging had fewer effects on those twins who were in better physical shape.

At the end of the 10-year period, the women who had had more leg power at the beginning of the study showed better memory and better processing skills than their siblings with less-fit bodies.

In fact, sisters with stronger legs performed 18% better than their less fit twins in cognitive and memory tests. So, every time you workout, you’re not just boosting your leg power, but increase your chances to improve your mind in the long run.

It’s one research that demonstrates how working out on a regular basis can keep our brains young for longer. According to Dr. Claire Steves, with simple exercises, like walking, and by maintaining a fit lifestyle, we can keep our bodies in good shape, with significant effects on our mental health.

Regular Exercise Keeps Your Brain Young

Many studies over the years have proved that physical activity has a positive influence on the brain health. It seems that while exercising muscles, the body releases hormones that can make brain cells grow.

Scientists are still a long way from understanding the mechanism that connects leg power to brain activity. However, they’re hoping that their research can bring more data to help scientists who fight against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

In the meantime, we can focus on exercising, to keep our bodies fit and our brains young.

There’s plenty of simple exercises that can help you improve leg power. From walking and jogging to more complicated workouts, any physical activity can help you improve your quality of life in the long run.

Push-ups, wide squats, jumps, and long jumps are just a few examples of physical activities that you can do at home to exercise your leg muscles and improve leg power.  Weight lifting can also help you keep your legs nice and fit.

As you workout, your heart rate raises, and your brain gets more blood, which also means more oxygen. This way, physical activity improves the way you feel in the present and slows down aging processes. In time, an active lifestyle pays off, by keeping your brain young.

Furthermore, exercising your legs burns calories, boosts metabolism, and builds your muscles, giving your body tone and definition, and making you faster and stronger.

Take Care of Your Body and Legs To Improve Your Brain Health!

A fit lifestyle is the most cost-effective method to keep a healthy body. And, according to the study mentioned above, exercising is also an effective method to take care of your brain health.

There’s no doubt; treating your legs well makes you feel young and improves quality of life. So, everything you do in this direction can have a positive effect on your future. If push-ups or weightlifting isn’t for you, try walking, jogging and even dancing.

If your legs are not in good shape, and you feel like too much exercise would do more harm than good, discuss alternatives with your doctor at a center like Dublin vein clinic.

. If you suffer from swelling, pain, or varicose veins, you can still improve your health and introduce light exercises to stay fit.

From endovenous laser treatment to surgery, modern medicine has a wide range of solutions to help you stay better. As these interventions also improve the way you look, you’ll feel better, exercise, and implement a healthy lifestyle to keep your body and your brain in excellent shape.

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