Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Evidence linking physical and mental fitness is spawning a host of materials and claims. Here are some sources you can check to learn more:

- "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain," by John J. Ratey with Eric Hagerman. Slated for publication in January.

- "Strength Training for Seniors: How to Rewind Your Biological Clock," by Michael Fekete. Argues that exercise gives seniors cognitive as well as physical benefits and offers guidance in designing a safe weight-training program.

- "The Brain Muscle Workout," by Michael Gonzalez-Wallace. DVD exercise program claims to boost brain fitness. http://www.thebrainmuscleworkout.com. (Note: Workouts are targeted at the general population, not seniors.)

Some general fitness resources for seniors

- "The First Step to Active Health -- for Seniors." DVD program offers a workout targeted at folks 50 and older. http://www.firststeptoactivehealth.com.

- The National Institute on Aging urges seniors to check with a doctor before starting an exercise program and to go slowly, particularly if you haven't exercised in a while.

Other sites with information on seniors and exercise: http://www.activeforlife.info and http://www.activeoptions.org.

-- Lori Aratani