Aerobic Exercise Benefits Alzheimer’s Patients. Alzheimer’s disease patients who engaged in a six-month aerobic exercise regimen experienced improvements in their executive function skills, memory, and hippocampal brain volume. The findings suggest that aerobic exercise early in the course of the disease may slow its progression. PLOS ONE, February 2017

Regular Exercise Reduces Depression Risk in Children. In a new study, researchers assessed about 700 children at ages six, eight, and ten and found that kids who participated in regular moderate-to-vigorous exercise were less likely to develop depression over those four years. Lead study author Dr. Tonje Zahl explains, “Being active, getting sweaty, and roughhousing…

Cycling While in Bed Good for ICU Patients. In this study that included 33 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, researchers found patients who used special in-bed cycling equipment for 30 minutes a day had better physical function at discharge, which they believe may promote a faster recovery. PLOS…

Set a Health Goal That Lasts. Did you make a New Year’s resolution to become healthier? The American Council on Exercise offers the following tips to help one continue to strive towards their goal as the year progresses: set a small, specific, actionable goal, such as going for a walk every other day; view your…

Routine Checkup Should Include Fitness Tests. A medical checkup usually includes height, weight, blood pressure, and a cholesterol screen, but one expert says healthcare providers should also collect data on cardiorespiratory fitness—a measure of how much work your body can do during exercise. Dr. Benjamin Levine from UT Southwestern Medical Center explains, “This measurement is…

Tennis May Prolong Your Life. After reviewing data concerning over 80,000 adults, researchers report those who played racquet sports—such as badminton, squash, and tennis—had nearly a 50% lower risk of dying from any cause over a 15-year period. Furthermore, they observed those who played racquet sports also had a 56% lower risk of death from…

Aerobic Exercise May Protect Against Dementia. Aerobic exercise may help improve memory and thinking skills among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In this study, researchers found that seniors who performed aerobic workouts four times a week for six months had a greater increase in brain volume than participants in a control group who…

Ugh! Exercise. Exercise can sometimes feel like a chore. To prevent this feeling, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends the following: join a walking group or exercise class; ask a friend to exercise with you; build a small garden in your backyard, neighborhood, or community; perform three ten-minute exercise sessions…

Strength Training Reduces Side Effects of Breast Cancer Surgery. This study, which included 27 breast cancer survivors who performed moderate-intensity strength workouts twice per week, revealed that weightlifting appeared to help prevent swelling in the arms and chest, which are common symptoms following the surgical treatment of breast cancer. Study author Dr. Lynn Panton adds,…

Can Running Lower Inflammation in the Knee? The idea that long-distance running is bad for your knees may be wrong. New research has found that pro-inflammatory mediators actually decrease in the knee joint after running. In this study, researchers measured inflammation markers in the knee joint fluid of several healthy men and women aged 18-35,…