Daily HealthBeat Tip

Working the body, Saving the mind

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

A sound mind in a sound body, is how the saying goes. And a study by researcher Eric Larson of Seattle's Group Health Cooperative indicates there's truth in it.

Larson tracked about 1,750 people ages 65 and older for six years, to see if physical activity reduces the risk of dementia. The work in Annals of Internal Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health:

"A modest amount of exercise would reduce a person's risk of dementia by about 30 - 40 percent.'' (six seconds)

There was some benefit with as little as 15 minutes of walking three times a week.

Larson says people who take up exercise even after decline begins may be able to slow their loss:

"It says to me, 'Use it even after you start to lose it.' " (four seconds)

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: February 16, 2006

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