The human body is a biological machine. And similar to other machines, which rust and fall apart when they aren't used, the body follows a similar, although not exactly the same pattern. For example, studies show that brain function with age relies on a certain level of brain stimulation. What works best are activities that are novel and new. Previously it was thought that the loss of neurons in the brain was an inevitable consequence of aging, and there was little or nothing that could be done to halt the progress of neuronal loss. While it's true that neurons are lost with the passing years, more recent research shows that stimulating the brain through an intellectual activity that challenges the brain will lead to not only new neurons forming in the memory areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus but also the sprouting of new connections between neurons that can work around the lost neurons. The net result is the retention of intellectual capacity well into advanced age. Conversely. not introducing new concepts and activities to the brain will lead to an accelerated loss of cognition or thinking ability. The current habit of not reading or stimulating the brain will eventually lead to devasting consequences for brain health and intelligence. It's the classic "use it or lose it" scenario.
One of the things known to positively influence brain function is exercise. Exercise influences brain health through a variety of mechanisms that include increased blood flow within the brain, as well as promoting the release of various substances that promote brain health, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor. While exercise is good for the brain and delays the aging of that organ, it also influences other organs and tissues in the body. The most obvious of these are the muscles. Anyone who has been involved in exercise for any length of time knows that a prolonged lack of exercise for an extended time will lead to a loss of muscle mass and strength. Of the two, muscle mass is lost a bit faster than muscular strength. When I was hospitalized a few years ago with an intestinal ailment, I couldn't eat for about 10 days and my only source of nourishment was an intravenous saline line. As a result, I lost 22 pounds in the hospital and the loss of muscle mass I experienced was nothing short of shocking. This loss of muscle mass was especially apparent in my thighs and arms, which had receded to the same size they were when I began weight training at age 12. But I soon returned to the gym and regained most of my lost muscle mass within about 6 months of steady training. Had I been younger, that would have occurred in about 2 to 3 months. But my muscular strength never returned to the levels they were previous to my illness. I attributed that to an aging effect.
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