I would imagine the most Americans have come around to the fact that the more physically active we are the better the chances that we not only live longer but can be active participants in Life. Participating in daily life would encompass being able to walk, get out of bed and chairs, be able to wash and clothe ourselves, etc.

But what few associate with physical activity is better cognitive health. Cognitive health simply put is being alert and sharp. Having good short term memory and socially interactive. The most progressive disorder associated with the aging process and the loss of cognitive health is Alzheimer’s. But, you can also throw into the mix Senile Dementia.

A recent study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry  showed that being physically active throughout all phases of adulthood was significantly associated with higher cognitive performance, verbal memory and processing speed in later stages of life (>69 years of age).

An easy to digest explanation of the study results can be found on Medscape.