It’s a fact: As we get older, we have a harder time remembering things. But is there a way to reverse the type of memory loss that occurs from old age?
New research from Australia says there may be a way to slow it down–and luckily, it won’t cost you a dime.
Led by researcher Lawla Law, an occupational therapist at the James Cook University’s School of Public Health in Queensland, Australia, they found that having at-risk patients do functional task simulation exercises, or FcTSim, reduced “mild cognitive decline” when practiced regularly.
“Daily functional tasks are innately cognitive-demanding and involve components of stretching, strengthening, balance and endurance as seen in traditional exercise programs,” say researchers, whose study was published in the journal Age and Ageing. “Although the functional tasks involved in the FcTSim program are simple placing/collection tasks that most people may do in their everyday life, complex cognitive interplays are required to enable us to see, reach and place the objects to the target position.”
While conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia are impossible to reverse, mild cognitive impairment–a common problem that often leads to these health problems–is reversible. Previous research shows that increasing mental stimulation and exercise helps the brain make new cells, preventing the mental decline that often comes following a decrease in brain cell matter. This study attempted to figure out which exercises specifically helped with this issue.
Here’s what researchers did:
- They recruited 83 older adults in Hong Kong to participate in the study, reportedly between the ages of 60 to 88 years old. They then tested them to see how bad their cognitive impairment was.
- Next, researchers had then complete an exercise program designed to strengthen their cognitive function. This program included exercises such as placing and collecting cups and arranging bowls in a certain order. They had them do this program 13 times over the next 10 weeks.
- After the exercise portion of the study was completed, researchers then tested their cognitive function once more. They then compared it to their cognitive function before the study.
As they soon found out, these exercises helped everyone across the board–reversing cognitive decline and improving their quality of life. Over the short term, it seemed like a success.
However, because the study did not focus on the exercise program’s long term effects, researchers hesitate to recommend it.
“I think there are several things about the study that prevent us from drawing broad conclusions, including that it was a relatively short period of time and a small group,” says Dr. Zaldy Tan, a medical director of the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program at the University of California. “We need larger studies, perhaps in the United States and in European populations as well, and for longer periods of time because ultimately the question we all want to answer is whether physical activity and cognitive activity can prevent someone with mild cognitive impairment from progressing into dementia.”
In the meanwhile, those at risk for cognitive decline may want to try online or iPhone brain exercise games as a cheaper substitute for the exercise program used in this study.
Readers: What other diet or exercise tricks do you use to improve your mental or physical health?
Source:
Task Oriented Exercise May Help With Mild Memory Loss – FoxNews.com
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