A new study from a team of researchers from UCL has found a link between heart health and brain aging. Researchers used MRI scans to estimate people’s brain age and found multiple risk factors for a prematurely aging brain.

The study found that worse cardiovascular health at age 36 predicted a higher brain age later in life. Brain aging has been associated with worse scores on cognitive tests and predicts brain shrinkage (atrophy) over the following two years. Researchers believe this could be an important clinical marker for people at risk of cognitive decline or other brain-related health issues.

The study participants were between the ages of 69 and 72 years old. All were part of an Alzheimer’s Disease Research UK-funded Insight 46 study that had an estimated brain age from an established MRI-based machine learning model. All participants had been a part of the study throughout their lives, so researchers could compare their current brain ages to various factors.

It was found that people with poor cardiovascular health during midlife had worse brain health later in life. Researchers also found that higher brain age was associated with a higher blood concentration of neurofilament light protein (NfL). This elevation was previously found to arise due to nerve cell damage, and it is now recognized as a useful marker of neurodegeneration.

These findings also align with a previous study that suggests high blood pressure at age 36 can predict brain health later in life.

Dr. Sara Imarisio, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “The Insight 46 study is helping reveal more about the complex relationship between the different factors influencing people’s brain health throughout their life. Using machine learning, researchers in this study have uncovered yet more evidence that poorer heart health in midlife is linked to greater brain shrinkage in later life. We’re incredibly grateful to the dedicated group of individuals who have contributed to research their entire lives making this work possible.”

Maintaining Brain and Heart Health

As this study helps to show, keeping the heart strong and healthy is vital for enjoying a high quality of life as you age. Heart Rescue was designed to help support and promote cardiovascular health using various ingredients, including omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, magnesium, and hawthorn extract. This formula’s health benefits can help strengthen the heart muscle, support circulation, and help reduce the risk of heart disease.

While some degree of cognitive decline is nearly inevitable as you age, this study shows how other factors can take a toll on the ability of the brain to function at peak potential. This can affect memory, concentration, and overall brain function.

The Smart Pill can help to enhance cognitive function and memory through 9 ingredients that help to support, nourish, and maximize brain health. These include ginkgo biloba, huperzine A, bacopa extract, rosemary extract, and a B vitamin complex. The formulation of these ingredients is an excellent way to help fight free radicals, boost circulation, and provide nutritional support to assist with cognitive function.

Cardiovascular pressure, also known as blood pressure, may be influenced by dietary salt, putting people at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and death. A new study from Vanderbilt University has discovered that activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome (a protein complex involved in the inflammatory response) in immune cells can contribute to salt-sensitive hypertension.

The study used inpatient salt loading and depletion protocols to characterize participants as salt-sensitive or not. Researchers then examined study responses in participants’ blood cells.

The NLRP3 inflammasome in a specific subtype of immune cells was found to change in salt-sensitive people. This change increased drastically with salt intake and blood pressure.

This new information shows that after consuming a salty meal, about 50% of people with hypertension will experience an exaggerated increase in blood pressure. In people with normal blood pressure, 25% of them will also have a rise in blood pressure. In elderly and African American people, the amount of people affected is even higher – up to 75%.

“The increase in blood pressure in response to salt can be significant enough to cause a heart attack, stroke, and even sudden cardiac death, yet it’s undiagnosed and goes untreated. It’s a silent killer,” said Annet Kirabo, DVM, MSc, Ph.D., senior author of the study.

Researchers hope this study will lead to the development of a blood test for salt sensitivity to blood pressure. If people know the true risks of table salt, they may be more inclined to reduce their consumption.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently high. High blood pressure can be harmful because it strains the heart and cardiovascular system and can also damage the organs in the body, leading to several health problems.

Cardiovascular Pressure Support

By maintaining healthy blood pressure, you can help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and help support overall heart health. Healthy Blood Pressure Support has been shown in human clinical studies to help support healthy blood pressure, making it an excellent choice for those looking to reduce their risk of hypertension. In addition, Healthy Blood Pressure Support also supports healthy cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health.

Dementia affects millions, and future predictions expect those numbers to jump as the population continues to age. A new study, however, suggests this condition may not be inevitable.

New research published in Neurology links several daily activities that may lower the risk for dementia, which likely comes as great news to you.

Several previous studies have linked leisure activities with better heart health and individual perceptions of well-being. However, evidence linking activities with dementia risk has been a little murkier, with findings often conflicting.

But researchers in this new study found that leisure activities like crafts, playing sports, or volunteering, among other things, were associated with a lower risk for dementia.

The study reviewed 38 existing studies that included more than 2 million people who did not have dementia. Of them, 74,700 went on to develop the condition during a three-year follow-up period.

After controlling for factors like age, gender, and education, they found that people who engaged in leisure activities had a 17 percent lower chance of dementia than people who didn’t.

They found that mental activities like reading, writing for pleasure, watching TV, listening to the radio/music, playing games or instruments, using a computer, or making crafts, were linked with a 23 percent lower risk for dementia.

Physical activities like walking, running, swimming, cycling, weight lifting, yoga, sports, and dancing were associated with a 17 percent lower risk.

Lastly, they found that engaging in social activities like staying in touch with friends, taking classes, joining clubs, volunteering, spending time with relatives or friends, or attending church, may lower the risk by 7 percent.

Of course, it is important to note that the study does not prove these leisure activities reduce the risk of, or prevent, dementia, just that there may be an association.

Some, or many, of these activities can easily fit into most people’s lifestyles. So, if you want to potentially reduce your risk for dementia, try picking some up. Also, take care of your heart and do your best to eat a healthful diet.

It’s no secret that the past couple of years have been tough on everyone, in many cases resulting in depression and anxiety. The global pandemic has upended our lives countless times, and the resulting stress and uncertainty have taken a toll on our mental health. Depression and anxiety are now a major concern, as more people than ever are reporting feeling sad, anxious, or hopeless.

As cases of depression and anxiety rise, researchers are looking for new interventions that may help reduce the symptoms and risks associated with mental health disorders.

A recent study from the University of Illinois Chicago is standing out among others. It found that among racially and ethnically diverse adults who were obese and depressed, an integrated behavioral intervention was more effective than usual care at reducing depression and anxiety symptoms and promoting weight loss.

“The link between our brain and behavior is powerful, and this growing body of evidence shows us that whole-person, integrated behavioral therapy can offer hope for some of our most challenging health conditions—obesity and depression, for example, being both highly prevalent and notoriously tricky to treat,” said study authors Dr. Jun Ma, the Beth and George Vitoux.

Cognitive Behavioral therapy is an intervention that aims to address the emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that contribute to a person’s mental health condition. Behavioral therapy focuses on changing how a person thinks about their experiences and the world around them, which can lead to changes in their emotions and behaviors.

More research is needed to understand the complexity of depression and anxiety fully. Still, researchers believe these results imply the potential for behaviorial therapy paired with other treatment strategies that can help to combat obesity, depression, and anxiety.

While it’s natural to feel down after such a difficult year, getting help is important if your depression or anxiety is interfering with your ability to function on a day-to-day basis. If you’re struggling, reach out to your doctor or a mental health professional for help. You don’t have to go through this alone.

Managing Stress and Anxiety

The stress of the past few years may have taken a toll on the brain, affecting concentration, memory, and overall brain function. The Smart Pill could help counteract these effects through nine ingredients that help support, nourish, and maximize brain health and cognitive function. These include ginkgo biloba, huperzine A, bacopa extract, rosemary extract, and a B vitamin complex. This unique formula helps fight free radicals, cognitive decline, and helps to promote clear thinking.

Reducing anxiety can be tough, but with the help of Anxiety Rescue, you can help to support healthy mood balance and cognitive function. Through a variety of ingredients, this unique formula can help to target multiple aspects of stress, mood support, and anxiety. Anxiety Rescue begins to work quickly and improves benefits and support as the weeks go.

Old-fashioned resistance training like lifting heavy weights repeatedly until you can’t is the best way for men to slow or even reverse age-related muscle loss.

The medical term for muscle loss, sarcopenia can boost the risk for falls, frailty, and independence. Resistance training (also called weight training) can be a huge help. It consists of doing upper and lower body exercises using free weights, machines, resistance bands, or even body weight.

It can be a challenge; the main one is finding the sweet spot between doing too little and too much.

Ultimately, the goal is to stress your muscles enough to feel a difference but not overdo it where you risk getting hurt. You also want to train with the goal of continuous improvement, not plateau.

So, how do you get into that sweet spot? The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research published some evidence-based guidelines to follow.

Type: One-to-two multi-joint exercises per major muscle group were identified as being most beneficial. There are six main muscle groups: chest, back, shoulders, arms, legs, and calves.

Multi-joint exercises are movements that engage more than one joint, like the elbow and shoulder, knee and ankle, etc. They differ from single-joint movements, like a bicep curl. Multi-joint movements allow you to move heavier weight to increase muscle faster.

Weight: It’s recommended that older adults aim to exercise within 70 to 85 percent of their one-rep max. Because learning your one-rep max can be difficult and very dangerous, pick weights where you can do ten reps with good form. You want to be struggling for the final rep or two and leave no more than a rep or two in reserve.

Reps (repetitions): Guidelines have found that anywhere from six to 12 reps per exercise were beneficial. Start with doing ten reps because it is easy to remember, and as you progress, aim for heavier weights at 6-8 reps.

Frequency: Aiming for 2-3 workouts per week produces the most muscle size and strength. Start with two workouts per week, spread out by a few days, then add another as you progress.

It can take some time to start noticing the changes. If you’re not seeing more muscle or feeling stronger after eight weeks, you are not exercising hard enough and need to mix up your routine by adding weight, sets, or the number of exercises.

Have you ever felt a little nauseous before giving a presentation or some stomach pain during stressful events?

If you have, it should be a clear indication of how closely your gut and brain interact.

But it can go much further than those examples. But at the end of the day, there is little doubt that emotional and psychosocial factors play a role in gastrointestinal disorders.

Stress-related symptoms in the gut are not cookie-cutter, and each person will experience something different. One person with acid reflux may get the occasional mild sensation in the chest, while someone else may experience nighty bouts of excruciating pain.

And as the type and severity of symptoms vary, so will treatments like medication, self-help, and other treatments.

People with mild symptoms may respond quickly to changes in their diet or medication protocol. If these changes don’t work for you, you may want to talk to your doctor to take a closer look and identify or rule out any underlying causes.

If underlying conditions that affect gut health are ruled out, it can be increasingly more likely that the symptoms are related to emotional or psychosocial issues. This can be hard for some people the accept, but doing so will point you down the road for better treatment and management techniques.

People who get severe stress-related gastrointestinal symptoms can likely benefit from mind-directed therapies like relaxation techniques, mediation, mindfulness, or cognitive behavioral therapy.

Your brain and gut are closely connected, and the answer to your gut-related issues could reside in your mind. Finding ways to relax, cope with stress, and limit anxiety could be the key to smooth sailing in your gut.

No one will blame you if you’d never heard of vasculitis before actor Ashton Kutcher announced his battle with it. It’s quite rare.

There isn’t a ton of data on how rare, but one study from 2014 estimated that it killed roughly 8,000 Americans between 1999 and 2010.

Vasculitis is an autoimmune disease that happens when blood vessels are subjected to inflammation. The immune system essentially attacks healthy tissue, and the inflammation leads to limited blood flow and circulation.

Mild symptoms like aches, fevers, and weight loss are more common. However, more severe symptoms, like what happened to Kutcher, can also happen. He said the condition made him unable to see and hear, while it also threw his equilibrium off kilter.

He also said it took about a year to rebound.

According to information from the Arthritis Foundation, blood vessel damage resulting from vasculitis can harm vital organs. At its most severe, it can lead to organ damage and/or death.

There are three different types. The difference is based on the size of the blood vessels involved and are classified as either large, medium, or small.

It can also occur on its own or can be tied to another illness like rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis C, lupus, and more. And because your body needs a healthy flow of blood to function, virtually any body part or organ can be affected.

The condition can only be diagnosed by blood tests and tissue biopsies, and the only treatment is by attempting to reduce inflammation in the affected blood vessels. It’s unknown if an anti-inflammatory diet can reduce the risk. The condition can also disappear on its own.

More severe cases are generally treated with corticosteroids or anti-rheumatic drugs.

It doesn’t seem like the condition is preventable or impacted by lifestyle factors.

New information from the American Heart Association (AHA) has provided new important guidelines about sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and cardiac arrhythmias.
SBD is often undiagnosed, but new research shows how it may be associated with developing cardiac arrhythmia.

Approximately 1 billion people suffer from SDB worldwide. Alterations in breathing during sleep characterize the condition. Previous studies have shown that the physiological stress of SDB has sustained biological effects, which alter the heart’s structure and raise the risk for heart arrhythmias. Treating SDB has shown reduced arrhythmia recurrence after interventions such as cardioversion for atrial fibrillation and catheter ablation.

Mounting evidence suggests that sleep-disordered breathing can lead to health consequences that can directly affect cardiac function. The relationship between sleep apnea and obesity with atrial fibrillation has created awareness to include lifestyle and risk factor reduction in treating atrial fibrillation.

The panel from a recent scientific statement issued their conclusions finding that SBD consequences influence the structural and electrophysiological structure of the heart, which creates an ideal setting for cardiac arrhythmias. Evidence of discrete episodes of stopping breathing also triggered atrial and ventricular arrhythmia events.

Currently, limited randomized studies have addressed SDB and atrial fibrillation, and they have shown conflicting results.

“We definitely need adequately powered, rigorously designed randomized controlled trials to ascertain whether intervening in patients with SDB actually improves arrhythmia outcomes,” said Dr. Mehra, Director of Research in Cleveland Clinic’s Sleep Disorders Center “The bulk of the data we have are for atrial fibrillation, and research is needed on other arrhythmias and on the impact of other factors, such as health disparities.”

Maintaining Heart Health and Sleep Quality

Keeping the heart strong and healthy is vital for enjoying a high quality of life as you age. As this study shows, there can be a variety of factors that can influence cardiac health, including sleep.

Heart Rescue was designed to help support and promote cardiovascular health using various ingredients, including omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, magnesium, and hawthorn extract. This formula’s health benefits can help strengthen the heart muscle, support circulation, and help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Sleep Sure Plus is designed to help promote optimal sleep and restfulness through a variety of ingredients. One of the most important ingredients included in this unique formula is melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone essential for regulating the circadian rhythm (the body’s internal clock). Sleep Sure Plus also contains valerian, one of the best natural ingredients for promoting rest and relaxation. These two essential ingredients are joined by another 6, which all work together to provide a better quality of sleep.

Plant-based diets can be good for your health and overall risk for disease, but they aren’t perfect. These diets are also associated with lower bone mineral density and an increased risk for fractures.

But pumping iron may counteract these effects.

New research from Austria – the home of legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger – shows that vegans who lift weights or do strength training have stronger bones than vegans who only do other forms of exercise like swimming or cycling.

The study also showed that resistance training offsets diminished bone structure in vegans compared to omnivores, who eat plants and animal-based foods.

Although protein and other nutrients in plant-based foods can contribute to bone and muscle formation, animal products like meat, dairy, and fish are the best sources.

Researchers compared data from 43 men and women who had been on a plant-based diet for at least five years with the data of 45 omnivores. They found that vegan participants who used weight machines, free weights, or did body resistance exercise at least once per week had stronger bones than vegans who did no resistance training.

They also learned that vegans and omnivores who did resistance training had similar bone structures.

The results were published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Resistance training is a cornerstone of healthy bone structure for everybody but may be particularly important for those following a plant-based diet. Try to include at least three 30-minute strength training workouts into your week.

Pregnancy is a time of great joy for many women, but it also comes with several health risks, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a term used for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It can result in chronic inflammation of the gut, leading to severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. While pregnant women are at an increased risk for IBD, there are steps they can take to mitigate the effects this condition can have on them and their unborn child. Read on to learn more.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) tends to affect women during their peak fertility period, so researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine set out to find the impact it may have on maternal and fetal outcomes.

Researchers reviewed more than 8 million pregnancies for the study between 2016 and 2018. There were a total of 14,129 women who had IBD. It was found that pregnant women with IBD had a higher incidence of gestational diabetes, hypertensive complications, postpartum hemorrhage, preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, and fetal death. It was also noted that pregnant women with IBD also had longer hospital stays after delivering and averaged an additional half-day length of stay. They also faced more than $2,700 in associated medical costs.

“IBD is an incurable disease, and its relapsing and remitting nature is stressful for the estimated 3 million U.S. men and women diagnosed,” said senior author Yezaz Ghouri, MD. “Because this disease tends to affect women during their peak fertility period, we wanted to know the impact of IBD on maternal and fetal outcomes. To our knowledge, this study is the most comprehensive of its kind, using data from multiple institutions in 48 states.”

While more research is needed to understand the relationship between pregnancy and inflammatory bowel disease fully, this study helps to understand the disease’s effects during pregnancy. For those trying to get pregnant, health care experts recommend getting symptoms of IBD under control as much as possible beforehand through dietary and lifestyle changes.

Digestion and Colon Health

Healthy Colon provides an excellent solution to help manage healthy digestion. The unique blend of ingredients includes natural sources of fiber, herbal ingredients, and probiotics to help prevent constipation and diarrhea.

Poor digestion can impact the absorption of nutrients and vitamins, depriving the body of the valuable nutrients it desires. But Healthy Colon can target several causes of digestive issues, promoting overall health and wellness.

America is certainly caffeinated. Research indicates that about 90 percent of U.S adults consume caffeine daily.

But are people drinking too much of it?

Caffeine is a complex compound that is in a variety of foods. It’s a natural stimulant found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cacao beans, guarana beans, and yerba mate leaves. It can also be synthetically created and added to energy drinks and soda.

It also doesn’t come without some controversy. Most studies on caffeine consumption center around coffee because it is the most popular form of consumption. There is plenty of research to show the benefits of caffeine, like its ability to boost energy, focus, mood, and even promote longevity, but there is also data that shows it can be harmful. Some of the harm may be trouble sleeping, irregular heartbeat, and anxiety.

So what gives?

How caffeine impacts your body and health may come down to your individual consumption patterns and caffeine metabolism. Data recently presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions came to no clear conclusion.

Researchers asked study participants to drink – or not drink – coffee for no more than two consecutive days each for two weeks. They found that people were more physically active and slept less on days they drank coffee than those without.

One very important factor to consider here is that people were asked to start and stop caffeine consumption, which may produce exaggerated results relative to when caffeine is consumed regularly. Caffeine’s impacts are attenuated with regular consumption.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, as much as 400 milligrams (mg) of coffee is considered safe for healthy adults. That equated to 4-5 cups. An 8-ounce cup of green or black tea has 30-50 mg; energy drinks can contain 20-250 mg per 8 ounces, and a 12-ounce can of caffeinated soda have 30-40 mg.

How a person reacts to and metabolizes caffeine is largely individualized. A “moderate” dose, like up to 2 8-ounce cups of coffee, can have beneficial effects for some while acting more like a high dose for others, potentially bringing on negative effects.

It is best to gauge your own intake and decide what is right for you.

Where you get your caffeine may be more important. Unsweetened coffee and tea, for example, are likely better sources than energy drinks, soda, or specialty coffees. The latter are loaded with sugar and other needless calories that can boost the risk for chronic illness.

Energy drinks can also feature mega-doses of caffeine that are generally consumed quickly, which is not ideal.

If you drink coffee and you feel great, keep it up. If it makes you feel anxious or keeps you up, scale back on intake.

If pickleball isn’t the great equalizer, it’s hard to say what is.

The sport allows the young and old, professional and amateur, and men and women to all get on the court at the same time to play each other.

It is the fastest-growing sport in America, and it’s become prevalent among older folks.

It is an accessible sport and is relatively easy to pick up for anybody. It is safe, but it can lead to injuries like any sport. Of course, you can’t eliminate the risk of injury, but you can take steps to reduce it.

The most likely injuries that may occur from pickleball are in the rotator cuff tendon in the shoulder. Such injuries can be quite painful and include bursitis, tendinitis, or even tendon tears.

Most small tears will heal on their own, and the other conditions can be treated with rest and some warmup routines. Larger tears can be a little harder to fix and lead to weakness.

Pickleball is not a major threat to rotator cuff injuries. In fact, everyday use of the joint and regular wear and tear are the real culprit. You don’t have to do anything wrong or abnormal to tear your rotator cuff; it can just be a living consequence.

Of course, pickleball does require players to frequently reach above their head with force, which can present the risk of damaging – or at least putting more stress – on the tendons on the rotator cuff.

The risk of such an injury is not entirely preventable but can be minimized by warming up before you play, stretching afterwards, and including some stretching and moderate/light strength training into your lifestyle.

Stretching and weight training will improve flexibility and strength while warming up before playing and stretching after will help better prepare your shoulder joint for movement and help it recover more quickly when you’re finished.

If pain is severe or persists, contact a doctor.

Go out and enjoy pickleball and play as safe as you can!

New research has found a link between the roots of the Rhodiola rosea plant and type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a problem that affects many people in the world. It can be managed, but there is no cure. There are treatments available to help those with type 2 diabetes, but researchers have recently found that the roots of the Rhodiola rosea root could be a possible new treatment.

This plant has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and now it looks like it might help to manage one of the most common diseases in the world. Researchers are still studying how this plant works, and more research is needed, but this could be a promising new treatment for type 2 diabetes.

The study published online in Scientific Reports found that Rodiola rosea showed great promise as a safe and effective non-pharmaceutical alternative. In the mouse model of human type 2 diabetes, Rhodiola rosea lowered fasting blood sugar levels, improved response to insulin injections, decreased several biomarkers of inflammation, and modulated the composition of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.

“The prevalence of type 2 diabetes and the associated health costs have risen steadily in recent decades. Humans have used plants and natural products for thousands of years to treat diseases, and our study shows Rhodiola rosea is a good candidate for further investigation,” said corresponding author Dr. Mahtab Jafari, UCI professor of pharmaceutical sciences. “Current treatment recommendations include lifestyle changes as well as oral and intravenous medications. However, these drugs have significant limitations or side effects, increasing the need for new therapeutic interventions.”

For the study, the team of researchers used a genetically engineered mouse model that developed obesity, high blood sugar, and insulin resistance that was similar to advanced human type 2 diabetes. All mice were age-matched male and female and were randomly assigned to one of two groups: control, which received water, or experimental, which received Rhodiola rosea extract.

Their findings showed that Rhodiola rosea may be beneficial for treating type 2 diabetes. This may be accomplished by a change in the microbiome that results in increased gut barrier integrity and decreased translocation of inflammatory molecules into the blood circulation. The gut barrier integrity impacts insulin response and body weight, and Rhodiola rosea may help improve the response of the muscle tissues, liver, and insulin produced by the pancreas.

The next step for the researchers is to perform a more extensive follow-up study in a new mouse model of obesity-induced diabetes to confirm these findings. In the future, researchers hope to conduct clinical trials in human patients with type 2 diabetes.

Maintaining Healthy Blood Sugar

While there is still a lot of research to be done for Rhodiola rosea, it is important to take steps to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels as you age.

Healthy Blood Sugar Support can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels using a number of ingredients that have been shown in clinical studies. The health benefits of this unique formula include supporting blood sugar metabolism and promoting healthy cholesterol and glucose levels already within the normal range. Healthy Blood Sugar Support can also help to reduce excessive hunger or increased appetite, fatigue, and blood glucose spikes after meals.

Dementia is a condition that affects the brain and results in impaired thinking, memory, and behavior. While there is no cure for dementia, you can take steps to lower your risk of developing this debilitating disease.

One such step is engaging in leisure activities that stimulate the mind and keep your brain active. In fact, recent research has shown that certain leisure activities may be linked to a lower risk of dementia. So, if you’re looking for ways to stay mentally and physically healthy as you age, add some of these activities to your repertoire.

Previous studies have shown that leisure activities are associated with various health benefits, including reduced atrial fibrillation and a lower cancer risk. However, there has been conflicting evidence of the role of leisure activities like playing sports, volunteering, and doing crafts in reducing dementia. This is what led researchers from the Peking University Sixth Hospital in Beijing, China, to start a new study.

The analysis involved a review of 38 studies from around the globe that looked at more than 2 million people who did not have dementia at the start of the study. All participants were followed for at least three years. Information was provided about their leisure activities through questionnaires and interviews and divided into cognitive, physical, and social activity.

During the studies, 74,700 people developed dementia. Researchers found that these participants had a lower report of leisure activities. It was concluded that those who engaged in leisure activities had a lower risk of developing dementia than those who did not engage in leisure activities.

Of the three groups of leisure activities, mental activities were found to have the best reduction in risk for dementia. These consisted of intellectual activities, including reading or writing for pleasure, watching television, listening to the radio, playing games or musical instruments, using a computer, and making crafts. Participants who recorded doing these activities regularly had a 23% lower risk of dementia.

Those who recorded physical activities including walking, running, swimming, bicycling, using exercise machines, playing sports, yoga, and dancing had a 17% lower risk of dementia.

Social activities helped to reduce the risk of dementia by 7%. These types of activities mainly referred to communication with others and included attending a class, joining a social club, volunteering, visiting with relatives or friends, or attending religious activities.

“This meta-analysis suggests that being active has benefits, and there are plenty of activities that are easy to incorporate into daily life that may be beneficial to the brain,” said study author Lin Lu, Ph.D. “Our research found that leisure activities may reduce the risk of dementia. Future studies should include larger sample sizes and longer follow-up time to reveal more links between leisure activities and dementia.”

Supporting Brain Function

As we age, numerous factors can affect the brain, affecting concentration, memory, and overall cognitive function. The Smart Pill can help counteract these effects through nine ingredients that help support, nourish, and maximize brain health and cognitive function. These include ginkgo biloba, huperzine A, bacopa extract, rosemary extract, and a B vitamin complex. This unique formula helps boost circulation, fight free radicals, and help to promote clear thinking.