University of Calgary study examines seniors and exercise
Posted Jan 5, 2011 1:05 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A study underway at the U of C is looking at how exercise can help seniors improve brain function and lower the risk of dementia.
AIHS Senior Scholar Dr. Marc Poulin is leading the Brain in Motion study. He says it’s been proven that physical activity improves cognitive skills but why that’s the case, isn’t as clear.
His team is setting up to prove it’s because of an increase in blood flow to the brain.
“Clearly there are some studies that have been done both in healthy populations and in populations with risk factors, and with early signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia that show beneficial effects of exercise on cognitive function,” says Poulin.
His team is recruiting 250 Calgarians aged 55 to 75 to hit the gym three times a week.
Anyone wanting more information can contact Natalie St-Denis at nstdenis@ucalgary.ca
