Two recent studies have found that elderly women who are physically active are less likely to suffer from cognitive decline, that is, their minds remained sharper than others' who were sedentary.

Italian researchers measured the mental status of 1,200 70- to 75-year-old women and then followed up 12 years later with 364 who were still living. They defined a high level of physical activity as walking at least 2 km (about 1-1/4 miles) a day.

They found that women with low levels of physical activity at the beginning of the test were more than twice as likely to experience mental decline during the 12 years of follow-up. Cognitive decline occurred in 16.7% of the high-activity women but in 39.5 percent of those with low activity levels.

Additional research will be needed to clarify why this is so. But meanwhile, findings such as these are another good reason to keep physically active.

Related information: Lifestyle changes - Exercise | Nutrition channel - Fitness Basics

Sources:

• Pignatti F, Rozzini R, Trabucchi M. Physical activity and cognitive decline in elderly persons. Archives of Internal Medicine, Feb. 11, 2002;162(3). (Letter)
• Yaffe K, Barnes D, Nevitt M, et al. A prospective study of physical activity and cognitive decline in elderly women: women who walk. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2001;161:1703-1798. (Abs.)