Brain Tissue Structure Could Explain Link Between Memory and Fitness

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Article: http://neurosciencenews.com/memory-fitness-brain-structure-6451/

"Brain Tissue Structure Could Explain Link Between Memory and Fitness"


Based off studies done by University of Illinois researchers, there are suggestions made that link fitness and memory, but researchers have struggled to find the mechanism to link them. Researchers from the University of Illinois found there might be connection in the microstructure of the hippocampus. A psychology professor named, Aron Barbey, led a group of researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at Illinois. They used a specialized MRI technique to measure the structural integrity of the hippocampus in healthy young adults and correlated it with their performances on memory tests and fitness. The results showed viscoelasticity, which is a measure of structural integrity in brain tissue, was correlated with fitness and memory performance. The hippocampus is critical for relation of memory and this region of the brain predicts neurodegenerative diseases.

I found this article interesting because we discussed a similar article in class about how neuroscientists discussed how exercise would correlated with quality of memory during the process of aging. I wonder how much exercise or how often would a person have to exercise to ensure a good memory as they age. In my gerontology class, we discussed how older people can suffer from all kinds of diseases, suffer from pains, and suffer from other illnesses. How do those people who suffer from diseases, still remain active so that they will have a good memory? I think losing your memory is something that just comes with aging. My grandma suffers from arthritis, and she can't walk far distances or stand up too long, because she will feel sharp pains in her knees. Even though she doesn't exercise a lot she still has a very good memory.

Comments

  1. Valerie VainqueurMay 2, 2017 at 4:04 PM

    I read an article similar to this, it was about how regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory and thinking skills. There are plenty of good reasons to get our physical activities in for many medical health reasons, but also it is good to know that it can help us in other areas of our lives like learning. I wonder if the brain stimulates or release some type of factor? I think it also makes sense that these two factors; memory and fitness, because exercise alone has the ability to help someone lessen their dilemma of anxiety, sleep, or stress. Now if someone suffers from really bad anxiety or someone who does not get enough sleep, there could be cognitive difficulties or issues or impairments that happen.

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