More eperimentation on mice reals that older mice that exercised on a running wheel developed new brain cells and learned a new task more effectively than older mice that took it easy all day, a study reports today.
The study showed that regular physical activity helped spur the production of neurons in the memory region of the mouse brain. If the findings hold true for humans, they suggest that regular workouts might give older humans a boost in brainpower and might even help forestall the forgetfulness and confusion that can plague people as they get older, says researcher Fred Gage of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif.
The findings, reported in today’s Journal of Neuroscience, also suggest that it’s never too late to get moving: The mice in the study were about 70 in human years, and they developed an edge in brainpower after exercising for just a month. (CONTINUED)
