Affecting one in eight older Americans, Alzheimer's disease has already been deemed the "defining disease of the Baby Boomer generation" by the Alzheimer's Association, and is a cause for concern among medical professionals and government officials around the world. Research in this area of brain health has ramped up in recent years, as scientists have explored the possibility of using curcumin supplements and other natural compounds to help keep this degenerative condition at bay.
In addition to seeking out foods and supplements that provide nutrition for the mind, there are other choices you make each day that can potentially improve memory support. Recently, researchers from the University of Maryland School of Public Health published a study on how regular physical activity may affect cognitive function as we age.
According to a press release from the university, the scientists sought to determine whether consistent exercise could benefit older adults who had developed mild cognitive impairment – which can be a precursor for Alzheimer's disease.
"We found that after 12 weeks of being on a moderate exercise program, study participants improved their neural efficiency – basically they were using fewer neural resources to perform the same memory task," said assistant professor and study leader Dr. J. Carson Smith.
The researchers noted that the exercise these individuals, all of whom were between 60 and 88 years old, engaged in was on par with standard recommendations for their age group. As well as displaying improved memory retrieval, the moderate intensity workouts improved the cardiovascular health of the participants.
Engaging in regular exercise, keeping your mind stimulated through reading or writing and incorporating omega-3 fatty acids, curcumin and other memory enhancers in your diet have all been linked to improved cognitive function. Click here to read more information about our brain support supplements.