Hi,

You have probably heard that walking is good for you.  Turns out that walking affects your brain in a good way also.

This is true no matter how old you are.

As with any type of exercise the key is consistency.  Walking for 20 minutes 2 or 3 times a year will not give you the benefits of walking consistently throughout your life.

A recent study wanted to find out if walking did indeed have any positive effects on the brain. 

This study measured DMN or default mode network.  This is the network that keeps you involved with your outside world. 

As people age they tend to lose this ability.  The study measured DMN to see if a walking program would help.

They measured DMN in people aged 59 to 80 and they compared the results to those that engaged in a stretching and toning (don’t know what exactly they mean by that) program.

This study lasted 1 year and they measured cognitive functioning at 6 months and 12 months.

They found that the walking group’s DMN improved significantly and there was increased performance of complex tasks and cognitive tests.

These results were not seen in the toning and stretching group.

So, if you are not exercising now, then at least start with walking.  If you are exercising now, add 1 or 2 walking sessions a week to your program. 

It might just help you remember where your left your keys!

So get out there and start walking and your brain will thank you for it.

Thanks for reading,

Mike Val

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