Father Time

There’s a saying that Father Time is undefeated.

And it’s true … but I like to say he’s open to negotiation.

There’s also a strong connection between brain health and the amount of lean body mass we have, and this connection stays with us as we get older.

Research shows that lean muscle mass declines up to 8 percent every decade after we hit 30 … and accelerates even more once we hit 60.

And this decline in lean mass has been tightly correlated with dementia and other brain and nervous system diseases.

How can we slow this decline of lean mass and brain function?

One proven way is weightlifting, i.e. resistance training or strength training.

The more lean mass we’re able to maintain every decade after 30, the more independent we’ll be when we get into our 60s, 70s and beyond … and the  longer we’ll be able to ward off cognitive decline.

You see, exercise has been proven to help our body ramp up production of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which is responsible for repairing damaged neurons and creating new ones.

So strength training isn’t just good for bigger, more defined biceps and triceps. It’s good for brain health, too.

We’re all battling Father Time. Strength training gives us a fighting chance … both physically and on the mental side, too.