[imdavidson]

Karen and everyone,

Yes, physical exercise is hugely important to recovery. Not only does exercise increase blood flow (and oxygen) to the brain as I mentioned earlier but in laboratory studies, animals that exercise regularly create new neurons in the hippocampus. That region of the brain is key to forming memories.

The brain is an amazing organ with the power to heal itself. You may have seen evidence of this in stroke victims who are able to regain many of their functions.

And there is also a large study just out in the July issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society that focused on teenage physical activity and how it reduces the risk of cognitive impairment in later years. But it also looked at what happens to women who are not active as teenagers and become physically active later in life (age groups 30 and 50). Those women showed a significantly lowered risk of cognitive impairment as well.

There's a good summary of the study in Science Daily at this link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0630071139.htm

Idelle