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Taking a Stroll Can Improve Your Memory
Week of February 18 - Gearing up for a test, interview or work presentation? Researchers say taking a quick stroll may be the best thing you can do for your memory. Dr. David Winter tells us more in tonight’s HealthSource report.
DR. WINTER
Are there really simple steps to a better memory?
DR. JEREMY DENNING
Neurosurgeon
Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano
“I think one of the notions ‘What’s good for the heart is good for the brain’ sort of applies here.”
DR. WINTER
Researchers recently looked at whether exercise—just a quick walk—had any impact on mental function.
DR. JEREMY DENNING
“They went on their 10 minute stroll and then they were subjected to a verbal test or visual test and then they were tested at different time periods throughout the day.”
DR. WINTER
Those who went on the morning walk scored higher—especially on the tests they took during the afternoon.
DR. JEREMY DENNING
“It’s hard to tease out exactly how exercise improved memory in these participants but one of the theories is that exercise causes and increase in certain neurotransmitters that are involved in memory processing.”
DR. WINTER
It’s also likely that walking—even for just 10 minutes-- significantly increases blood flow to the brain and enhances our ability to concentrate throughout the day.
DR. JEREMY DENNING
“It’s highly likely that the exercise made the participants more alert and this allowed them to process this information more efficiently.”
DR. WINTER
And experts say the study is just the first step in this direction of research.
DR. JEREMY DENNING
“I think now we’re becoming more conscious of the beneficial aspects of exercise on brain health.”
DR. WINTER
For Baylor Health Care System, I’m Dr. David Winter.
ANCHOR TAG
Researchers say the same study revealed memory naturally peaks around lunchtime and begins to decline in the hours following.