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As we age, certain body functions slow down. Some changes are inevitable, such as grey hair, and possibly less of it. Our lungs lose capacity and even our brains lose volume.

As our body fitness declines, must our brain fitness as well? There is no doubt that most over the age of 65 have more trouble with memory than in the past. That’s especially true for short-term memory. “Where did I leave my keys?” is the common question asked by many.

But the more important question is “Do I know what to do with my keys once I find them?” These questions point out the difference between normal aging and diseases such as dementia. That critical difference is very important.

Normal aging is not a disease.

If you allow your body to remain sedentary over the years, you will become less independent. You will also be at higher risk for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Similarly, the unchallenged mind will slowly lose neural connections. It will display symptoms of confusion, memory loss, and less ability to quickly process complex information.

Too many older adults simply give up. They believe the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” That is absolutely wrong! We have over 100 billion brain cells at maturity and 100 trillion connections between them. Yes, we can afford to lose a few as we get older.

Unfortunately, about 5% of older people develop Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia. These diseases interfere with messages travelling through the brain. This “disease state” speeds up the loss of brain function in the same way that hypertension, diabetes and heart disease can speed up the loss of body function.

The body and brain are interconnected, so chronic diseases in the body can also impair mental function.

Can we slow down or reverse some of the normal cognitive decline with aging?

Yes, we can! Strong evidence has shown that the brain can “re-wire” itself. This capacity of the brain to change in response to stimulation is called neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity comes into play when you must pay close attention and focus on learning a new task. Learning a new computer skill or another language are examples of this.

What is good for the body is also good for the brain — and vice-versa.

Most experts agree that light to moderate physical activity is one of the best protectors against the loss of both body and brain function.

In fact, the ideal recipe for enhanced brain function may be the combination of physical activity, intellectual stimulation, and social interaction, all at the same time.

Keep in mind that a heart-healthy diet is also a brain-healthy diet and may help to preserve memory and thinking skills.

As a fitness practitioner you can help your clients improve their physical fitness and their brain fitness at the same time.

• During an exercise class, ask questions for participants to respond to during the class. It can be a simple question like “How many four-legged animals can you name?” Have them sing a song, count backwards from 100. Whatever makes it fun and makes them think.
• Explain to them the reason for exercising both the body and the brain at the same time. Getting fresh blood into the brain is a great way to help ‘re-wire’ the brain.
• Encourage your members to ‘walk and talk’, but the talk needs to make them think, not just asking about weather. The socialization and having a buddy will help to strengthen the positive aspects of  activity.

By combining physical, intellectual, and social activity with good diet, you are building a ‘cognitive reserve’ – kind of like an RRSP for the brain. This may well delay the onset of the normal symptoms of aging.