We all know that a more physically active life is better for our health, but as you get older, during middle age and into older age, your body can’t do some of the things it used to be able to do.
It’s not uncommon for people even in their early 50s to experience that along with also starting to notice that all of a sudden you find yourself, saying what’s that guy’s name again, you know the one on at that show about, you know, that guy. Well, a new study is out that found there is something you can do that may surprise you that will help both your body and your mind as you age.
The researchers in this study say it’s doing household chores, regular old household chores. They found that older adults who perform household chores have larger brains — and they say that’s a key measure of good cognitive health.
The results of their study show older people who spend more time doing chores have greater brain volume, regardless of how much they actually exercise. Doing chores, they found, also push your mind to plan and organize, which promotes the formation of new neural connections over time.
And they that doing more household chores, from cleaning inside to working in the yard outside, have an effect similar to low-intensity aerobic exercise — which benefits your heart and blood vessels.
With it being spring cleaning time now anyway, it could be just the right time to catch up on all those chores around the house.
(Photo Getty Images)