Any aerobic physical activity that raises the heart rate and increases the body's need for oxygen may reduce the risk for dementia and slow cognitive decline once it starts, according to a comprehensive literature review. "We culled through all the scientific literature we could find on the subject of exercise and cognition, including animal studies and observational studies, reviewing over 1600 papers, with 130 bearing directly on this issue," J. Eric Ahlskog, MD, PhD, neurologist at the Mayo Clinic and professor of neurology at the Mayo Medical School, Rochester, Minnesota, said in a statement.

Medscape, by Megan Brooks, 9/20/11

Tags: Neurology