Parents On The Blog

Women who are physically active at any point over the life course (teenage, age 30, age 50, late life) have lower risk of cognitive impairment in late-life compared to those who are inactive, but teenage physical activity appears to be most important. This is the key finding of a study of over nine thousand women published today in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

There is growing evidence to suggest that people who are physically active in mid- and late life have lower chance of dementia and more minor forms of cognitive impairment in old age. However, there is a poorer understanding of the importance of early life physical activity and the relative importance of physical activity at different ages. Researchers led by Laura Middleton, PhD, of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Canada, compared the physical activity at teenage, age 30, age 50, and late life against cognition of 9,344 women from Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon and Pennsylvania to investigate the effectiveness of activity at different life stages.

Of the participants, 15.5%, 29.7%, 28.1%, and 21.1% reported being physically inactive at teenage, at 30 years, at 50 years, and in late life respectively; the increase in cognitive impairment for those who were inactive was between 50% and 100% at each time point. When physical activity measures for all four ages were entered into a single model and adjusted for variables such as age, education, marital status, diabetes, hypertension, depressive symptoms, smoking, and BMI, only teenage physical activity status remained significantly associated with cognitive performance in old age.

“Our study shows that women who are regularly physically active at any age have lower risk of cognitive impairment than those who are inactive but that being physically active at teenage is most important in preventing cognitive impairment,” said Middleton.

The researchers also found that women who were physically inactive at teenage but became physically active at age 30 and age 50 had significantly reduced odds of cognitive impairment relative to those who remained physically inactive. In contrast, being physically active at age 30 and age 50 was not significantly associated with rates of cognitive impairment in those women who were already physically active at teenage.

Middleton added, “As a result, to minimize the risk of dementia, physical activity should be encouraged from early life. Not to be without hope, people who were inactive at teenage can reduce their risk of cognitive impairment by becoming active in later life.”

The researchers concluded that the mechanisms by which physical activity across the life course is related to late life cognition are likely to be multi-factorial. There is evidence to suggest that physical activity has a positive effect on brain plasticity and cognition and in addition, physical activity reduces the rates and severity of vascular risk factors, such as hypertension, obesity, and type II diabetes, which are each associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment.

“Low physical activity levels in today’s youth may mean increased dementia rates in the future. Dementia prevention programs and other health promotion programs encouraging physical activity should target people starting at very young ages, not just in mid- and late life,” said Middleton.

Jennifer Beal | Source: EurekAlert!
Further information: www.wiley.com

Some of the best educational toys for preschool children are the toys that permit them to continue learning and growing. Yet learning and growing does not have to be confined to education. Kids need exercise too to grow and develop into healthy adults.

Most preschoolers tend to get involved with anything that allows them to have fun. Often they enjoy puppets, hide-away tents, easels, art supplies, costumes, books, and so on. Books that entice rhythmic speaking or imagery often entices the average preschooler to join in the fun.

Online you can choose from a range of dollhouses, blocks, cushions, arts and crafts, easels, playhouses, theaters, pretend play, storage, books, and furniture for kids. Plenty of musical toys, toy pianos, creative play, and puppets are sold on the web as well.

The top learning toys however are the ones that allow your child to enjoy physical and mental fun. Children build motor skills, and develop well when they have learning games that allow them to achieve balance often through climbing, running, crawling, or grasping.

Children also need to expand the cognitive mind. Toys that allow them to solve problems, such as cause and effect, allow them to develop cognitively. To build the cognitive mind, the child needs tools that allow them to play with shapes, size, numbers, and colors.
These activities will help your child build memory and focus skills. Children develop language skills by playing with other children. They also learn such skills from playing with cooing games as babies, and using learning toys throughout their growth stages. Toys that tell stories or jokes also help children to learn.

The idea toys include those that allow your child to expand negotiating and cooperative skills. Games that allow your young person to mature naturally should be included. Social skills can develop if your preschool child has instructive games that teach them how to share with others.

Board games are some of the top toys to help your toddler build social skills, since your child can interact with you or other small children while playing these games. To build cognitive skills, blocks that have colors and numbers are the preeminent choice. Your youngster can build houses, roads, etc while using his or her imagination. To teach your preschooler how to focus, you may consider educational magnetic calendars which come with magnets to help your kid learn the time of month, day, and holidays. These are usually recommended for children four years of age and older. Finally, don’t forget your child needs exercise to grow also, so be sure to pick some of the best educational toys for preschool children that permit them to mature emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Read more and find the best cheap toys on the net at Cheap Toys for Sale or ABC Puzzle Review