John Hamilton

They were enrolled in exercise classes, and they did brain HQ cognitive training.

Both groups benefited compared with, you know, typical people of their age.

But the group that did intensive mental and physical exercise had better brain health overall.

There's no way to really break that apart.

But one thing to keep in mind is that studies have consistently shown that physical exercise is absolutely the best thing you can do for your brain health.

So researchers are experimenting with ways to combine, for example, a cardio workout with brain training.

I spoke with a scientist at the University of California, San Diego, who is trying to do exactly that.

She's using stationary bikes and virtual reality.

Her name is Judy Pa.

That's part of the idea, is that one of the biggest challenges with both mental and cognitive fitness programs is you've got to find something that people will keep doing even when they're not in a scientific study, right?

So I asked another brain scientist about that when I was at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Toronto recently.

Her name is Jessica Langbaum, and she runs the Alzheimer's Prevention Program at Banner Health in Phoenix.

This is her advice on lifestyle change.

That social interaction seems to add something to any kind of cognitive or physical exercise.

Exactly.

And if you do...

Your brain will stay young forever.

Anytime, Gina.

About 20,000 brain scientists are expected to attend this year's meeting.

Usually, they discuss topics like the brain circuitry involved in Alzheimer's disease.