During Brain Awareness Week, walking with friends and loved ones can pay multiple benefits to both your body and your brain.
Walking with friends and loved ones can bring multiple benefits to both your body and your brain.
During Brain Awareness Week, Dr. Angela HussA geriatrician with Kaiser Permanente offers two simple ways to improve memory, sharpen the focus and reduce the chances of long-term memory decline.
“Walking is a great exercise and we know that exercise is really good for brain health in general,” HSU said. “Doing things like medium-intensity exercise for 30 minutes every day reduces the risk of dementia becoming 30 or 40% later.
And the benefits of exercise are not just for the long term.
“If you walk within the past few hours, you’ll perform better with brain testing and cognitive function than people who haven’t exercised recently,” she said.
As they age, they generally become more concerned about maintaining memory and mental vision.
“Walking regularly is also suitable for all ages and teenagers. It helps to feel good and helps with things like impulse control,” HSU said. “If you start walking and become more active early in life, this will help reduce your risk of dementia and cognitive issues in the future, as your brain is working out for longer and your brain is healthy for longer.”
The construction of brain strength and resilience comes from both physical and cognitive movements, HSU said.
“Cognitive stimuli include things like social interaction,” HSU said. “Social interactions have been associated with longer-lasting mood improvements, improved health outcomes, and lower risk of dementia.”
People who live with married people or others who interact with them regularly socially are at a lower risk of developing dementia.
“Loners have a higher risk of physical and cognitive problems,” she said.
HSU said we should ask ourselves what people are doing to stimulate their brains.
“If that means going for a walk with someone or having lunch with a friend, these are all fun and easy things that can help your brain,” she said.
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