Brain Fitness Exercise saves cognitive abilities in older adults
By Melissa Lee Phillips Neuroscience for Kids Consultant April
9, 2004  Aerobic exercise does remarkable things for the body.
It strengthens the lungs, blood vessels, bones, and the heart
and other muscles. For older adults, getting the heart pumping
faster may also strengthen the mind. A new study offers evidence
that regular walking can help prevent the cognitive decline that
often accompanies advancing age.  As adults age, their brain
tissue loses density, particularly in the prefrontal cortex of
the frontal lobe. Many of the areas that lose neurons are
involved in so-called "executive" functions -- tasks that
require complex thought and attention, such as planning,
coordinating and using working memory. The depressing result is
that once we reach our 20s, we become less and less capable of
performing tasks that challenge our minds. The good news?
Something as simple as aerobic activity can fend off age-
associated cognitive problems.  The la