Keeping Your Brain Sharp
(Exercise just got even better)
3 min read
Regardless of where you train or where you’re considering training, if you’re at Evolved, Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness, CrossFit, Crunch, or your garage, you want to read this article.
We’re so excited about this heavy subject material that we’ve been sharing and discussing it with our staff, clients, family, and friends.
It’s powerful stuff, so let’s get right to it.
Dementia affects 55 million people worldwide and is the 7th leading cause of death worldwide. And that’s not to mention the burden shouldered by the relatives and caregivers of those affected.
It’s a serious topic.
So when Dr. Peter Attia MD, the foremost expert on the applied science of longevity, discusses the topic, it’s wise to listen.
In a recent interview, Dr. Attia shared how he had tasked his team to find the best inputs to prevent the most common cause of dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink and brain cells to die.
After a year of work, scouring through the research, they came to the conclusion that:
“the single greatest efficacy we can point to is exercise”
“{Exercise} touches every aspect of the brain.”
“[Exercise is] hands down the best thing we can do for the brain.”
Now, admittedly, this is a complex issue to tackle as there are a lot of things that contribute to Alzheimer’s prevention, but as Dr. Attia says,
“There’s not one thing more important than exercising.”
So, exactly how effective is exercise in preventing this form of dementia?
According to Dr. Attia, the risk of Alzheimer’s can be reduced by 50% with an intervention as simple as 25 minutes of brisk walking a day (for a total of 3 hours per week) and more risk can be attenuated with more intense exercise.
That’s powerful stuff.
So, the big takeaway is if you’re already training regularly, your brain owes you a big "Thank You."
If you’re not training yet, start small and work your way up. Even the simple act of walking can dramatically reduce your risk.
So, do your brain a favor and exercise.