Many people I know do Sudoku–several of my coworkers, more than a handful of my friends. My dad does crossword puzzles. I do Jumble. These things are supposed to help with mental agility, right? That’s what I’ve been told so I bookmarked Sudoku and started doing a puzzle a day along with Jumble.
Then I read an article in Elle magazine that exercise (more so than the above-mentioned puzzles) assists in new brain cell growth and also helps increase the brain’s storage capacity.
“Getting your body in motion gets your mind moving–both enhancing mental agility in the short term and protecting against cognitive decline in the long term…The best brain-boosting results come from heart-rate-rising exertion–specifically, running.”
There are two things that Americans are obsessed with that I dismiss. I do not believe in dieting or exercise. Because once you stop, you might as well have never started in the first place.
But if regular exercise might stave off Alzheimer’s, if running is going to keep me alert past retirement, then sign me up. I’d forgotten that my white-haired, well-coiffed Anatomy teacher played tennis every single morning. She looked great then and she looked just as amazing when I bumped into her at a play a month ago. She used to talk about the importance of keeping fit during class. I’m such a dummy for not paying attention.
So I laced up my running shoes today. My, it’s been a long time. Can’t believe I’m going to start running again.
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