Biomed Radio - Washington University School Of Medicine In St. Louis

Exercise and mindfulness often are associated with reduced stress. That can be good for a person’s heart and mood. Now Washington University researchers are leading an effort to learn whether those activities also might be good for one’s memory. The investigators are studying the effects of exercise and mindfulness training on cognitive function in adults over the age of 65. The researchers won’t be studying people with the sort of dementia associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, but they hope to learn whether some combination of exercise, mindfulness training and lifestyle intervention might help prevent some of the cognitive problems thought to be a normal part of aging. MOST OF US EXPERIENCE DECLINES IN OUR COGNITIVE ABILITIES AS WE GET OLDER. AFTER THE AGE OF 65, OUR BRAINS DON’T FUNCTION QUITE AS WELL AS THEY DID WHEN WE WERE IN OUR 20s OR 30s. NOW RESEARCHERS AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IN ST. LOUIS ARE STUDYING STRATEGIES THAT MAY HELP OLDER ADULTS TO SLOW, PREVENT, OR EVE