Running Brain.com

Through my work as a physician, I see the end results of poor health habits. The combination of inactivity, poor diet, inadequate self-care and high levels of stress culminate in premature aging of the body and mind. New studies show that you can begin exercising at almost any age and still reap the benefits of improved overall health, longevity of mind, and extend your functional life in the process. If you want to improve your level of happiness and self-confidence and keep your “Running Brain,” you need to exercise and eat a healthy diet.

Some of the most exciting recent data available about exercise and brain health suggests that exercise stimulates protective brain chemicals that can help protect new brain cells. This protein called “brain derived neurotrophic factor” helps brain cells grow and make new connections. This is especially interesting to those of us working with patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The memory boosting effects of running have been shown to protect the hippocampus, the area of the brain affected earliest in patients afflicted with Alzheimer’s. Older adults who exercise have brains that are more densely packed with extra connections, and are more resistant to damage. The studies show, not only preserved function, but actual improvement. These new studies suggest that there may be something more we can do to delay the onset of this terrible disease. I believe the link may have to do with reducing vascular damage in the brain related to poor oxygen delivery. By reducing this “clogged blood vessel” related damage, people will have symptoms at a later age and have more functional years in later life.

Americans think they are healthier than they actually are. More than 60% of Americans don’t exercise enough to yield health benefits.

• About 2/3 of Americans are overweight
• About 1/4 of Americans are obese
• Michigan is in the five states with the highest percentage of obese residents. (24.4%)
• Common conditions associated with obesity include premature death, high blood pressure, arthritis, some cancers, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The plain and simple truth is that many of these chronic health conditions have common denominators. They are: lack of exercise, poor diet, smoking, obesity, and the effects of excess stress.
• Over a quarter of Americans will die of cardiovascular disease. It is the number one cause of death after age 65 and is number two from age 45 to 64.
• There are an estimated 400,000 deaths in the United States each year attributed to lack of adequate exercise. This is comparable to the 435,000 annual deaths attributable to smoking.