Health Pulse Movement And Memory If you want to remember where you put your keys, go for a walk: exercise can improve your memory. How this happens remains a mystery, though research suggests that regular exercise enlarges the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory. It’s not that simple, of course: short-term and long-term memory operate along different neural pathways, as does memory for visual versus auditory inputs. Studies have determined that a bout of exercise improves short-term visual memory and free recall – but not memory for sequences. To date, almost all research on the effect of exercise on memory has looked at simple walking, but there’s no reason that other forms of exercise wouldn’t have similar benefits. In fact, a study found that tai chi may enhance cognitive function, including working memory, in older adults. Most encouraging of all, the bulk of evidence suggests that exercise continues to boost memory throughout one’s lifespan. So even if you’re an exercise newbie, that stroll around the block could make those keys easier to find. Sources: Harvard Health Publishing, National Library of Medicine Balancing Act Balance – the ability to stand or move without falling, or recover if you trip – requires crosstalk between your central nervous system, inner ear, eyes, muscles, bones and joints. As many of us learn from experience, substances such as alcohol can significantly impair balance, as can certain medical conditions. Even healthy people may find that their balance deteriorates as they get older. By the time people reach their senior years, balance issues become a serious medical problem. In the U.S., about three million older adults visit the emergency department annually due to falls, which account for the bulk of hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries. No matter your age, balance training can help improve your equilibrium and sense of safety. Here’s a short list to get you started: ▶ Balance on one foot for a few seconds while standing. Then try it while brushing your teeth, using a counter for support as needed. ▶ Stand on one leg, bend your other leg so that the foot rests against the upright shin, and hold that position for a few seconds. ▶ Do biceps curls with weights while standing on one leg. ▶ Stand up from a seated position without using your hands for leverage. Find a straight line on the floor (such as the edge of a carpet) and walk along it, moving your feet from heel to toe. Sources: Mayo Clinic, Harvard Health Publishing Deciding on the Flu Shot The question sneaks up on us every fall: should I get a flu shot this year? While most people recover from influenza without any problem, the infection puts about 12,000 Canadians in the hospital every year and kills about 3,500. If these numbers argue strongly for getting the flu vaccine, you should also know that the shot won’t necessarily prevent you from catching the flu. It will, however, make your symptoms milder and lower the risk of flu complications, which is why the Public Health Agency of Canada recommends it for everyone (with limited exceptions) aged six months or older. The vaccine takes on extra importance if you’re at high risk of flu complications – for instance, if you have a chronic disease or weakened immune system or if you take care of someone at high risk. If you don’t fall into these groups and can live with the risk of being sidelined with the flu for several days, a decision to skip the shot becomes easier to justify. Next year, you may change your mind – and the shot will also change, as scientists update the vaccines to match the flu strains expected to circulate each year. You can also change your mind mid-season; if you missed the optimal early-fall window, you can still benefit from the shot later on in the season – as late as January and beyond. Sources: Alberta Health, University of Saskatchewan Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, National Council on Aging 40 | www.snowbirds.org
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