Home / Health / Leg Strength: Your Brain's Secret Weapon
Leg Strength: Your Brain's Secret Weapon
1 Dec
Summary
- Leg strength directly impacts brain sharpness and memory as people age.
- Stronger legs correlate with better memory and faster thinking over time.
- Simple leg exercises and standing breaks protect brain health.
The strength of your legs plays a more significant role in maintaining brain health and sharpness as you age than commonly believed. Neurosurgeon Dr. Prashant Katakol emphasizes this connection, noting that many are unaware of how leg muscles influence cognitive function.
A study published in the Journal of Gerontology found that individuals with stronger legs exhibited better memory and quicker thinking over a ten-year period. Brain scans also revealed greater grey matter volume in those with stronger legs, underscoring the direct impact on learning and decision-making abilities.
Dr. Katakol advises incorporating simple leg-strengthening activities into daily routines, especially for those with sedentary jobs. Taking short breaks to stand, walk, or do chair exercises every 30-40 minutes, and opting for the stairs whenever possible, can send protective signals to the brain, promoting long-term cognitive vitality.
