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Heart Health

A stronger heart may help keep your brain young

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People with higher levels of cardiovascular fitness may do better on tests that measure memory, motor skills, and executive function (mental skills to manage time, plan and organize, and recall details) than people who aren’t as fit. Exercise delivers extra oxygen to the brain and also seems to stimulate the growth of new cells and blood vessels in the brain. Experts believe that meeting the federal physical activity guidelines may help keep a person’s brain young, or at least slow down the normal decline in age-related thinking skills.

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