Ever find yourself trying to recall a word that’s on the tip of your tongue? In a study that included both seniors and young adults, researchers found that those with higher aerobic fitness levels performed better on word recall tests. Scientific Reports, April 2018

A sedentary lifestyle can lead to a host of physical and mental woes. According to the National Library of Medicine, inactive adults have an elevated risk for obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. National Library of Medicine, May 2018

Among a group of 1,100 Brazilian teenagers, researchers found that those with low aerobic fitness were 80% more likely to experience poor sleep quality. World Journal of Pediatrics, March 2018

In this study, researchers found that mice that ran the equivalent of 3.1 miles (5 km) per day generated about 4.5 times more new heart muscle cells than mice that abstained from exercise. The investigators report that these findings demonstrate how exercise can increases the heart’s capacity to regenerate. Researcher Dr. Anthony Rosenzweig notes, “Maintaining…

University of South Carolina researchers report that among a group of 1,570 elementary school students, only 9.3% of girls and 10.4% of boys engaged more than the recommended 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, May 2018

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who engaged in a twelve-week tai chi intervention experienced similar improvements on the Saint Georges Respiratory Questionnaire—a standard measure of health status for patients with airway obstruction—as patients in a traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program. Chest, March 2018

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a condition that causes a rapid and irregular heartbeat, which can lead to cardiovascular events like stroke and heart failure. A systemic review of studies published in over 1,800 journals concluded that both yoga and moderate physical exercise can help patients manage the symptoms associated with AF and improve their overall…

Previous research has demonstrated that individuals with poor fitness levels as they enter adulthood have an increased risk for a number of negative health outcomes. In this study, researchers found that teens who participated in organized sports during late adolescence had higher fitness levels at age 19 than their peers who did not. The authors…

New research suggests that engaging in regular physical activity can protect seniors from falls. In this study, investigators found that older adults who exercise are 39% less likely to experience recurrent falls than their more sedentary peers. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, March 2018

Exercise may be the best option to counter the physical effects of aging. In this study, investigators assessed both female and male cyclists, aged 55 to 79, and found that compared with non-exercisers, the cyclists did not exhibit age-related muscle mass or strength loss, they did not experience age-related increases in body fat or cholesterol…