Tag: brain shrinkage

People who are out of shape in midlife may end up with smaller brain volume as they age compared to peers who exercise regularly, according to a U.S. study.

While past research suggests that brain shrinkage may be an unavoidable part of aging, the new findings add inactivity to a growing list of factors like smoking, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure that are thought to accelerate the process.

"We found that poor fitness in midlife was linked to more rapid brain aging two decades later," said lead author Nicole Spartano of Boston University School of Medicine.