Older people are inclined to add more physical activities to their day after a study showed that it could be beneficial to their brain’s gray matter. A higher percentage of gray matter is what doctor’s seek when they study their patients. A device known as an accelerometer was used on patients over 80 to measure the amount of physical activity exerted in a given time. This was an alternative method of collecting data which brings more accurate numbers for doctors to analyze. In conclusion the study shows the elderly ought to be more physically active to promote good brain health.

Key Takeaways:

• A recent study has show that increased levels of activity by older adults translates directly to higher levels of brain matter.
• The researchers used accelerometers to track the daily movements of seniors and correlated that data against brain scans.
• In addition to the positive results, this study was unique in that it was one of the first to track activity levels of adults over 80.

“Higher levels of lifestyle physical activity — such as house cleaning, walking a dog and gardening, as well as exercise — are associated with more gray matter in the brains of older adults, according to a study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center.”

Read more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180214093828.htm