If you walk, jog or cycle three times a week, you’re in a safe zone. Regular exercise is not just good for your overall health but is an excellent way to improve your cognitive skills as you age. A study conducted at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, correlated regular exercise with better cognitive skills in silvers. As part of the study, 160 people of average age of 65 years and above were divided into four groups. The first group was made to do aerobic exercise; the second was put on the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products; the third group was made to do both aerobics and the DASH diet; and the fourth was only given health education. It was found that participants who regularly exercised had better cognitive skills after six months than those who didn’t exercise at all. Exercise significantly improves thinking skills and executive functions that involve the ability to regulate behaviour, pay attention, organise ideas and achieve goals. The findings were published in journal Neurology.

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January 2019