Exercise IS good for your brain: Boosting muscle strength can help stave off dementia

Keeping active can help keep pensioners healthy, but new research shows that building up muscles can boost brain power as well. Researchers in Australia found that increased muscle strength can lead to improved brain function in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The team says the findings are important as people with MCI are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. With 135 million people forecast to suffer from dementia globally by 2050, researchers say their findings have implications for the type and intensity of exercise that is recommended for the growing ageing population. MCI defines people who have noticeably reduced cognitive abilities such as poorer memory, but are still able to live independently.