Forget apples – lifting weights and doing cardio can also keep the doctors away, according a new study by researchers at VCH Research Institute and UBC.
The study followed 86 women, aged 70- to 80-years-old, who were randomly assigned to participate in weight training classes, outdoor walking classes, or balance and toning classes (such as yoga and pilates) for six months. All participants have mild cognitive impairment, a well-recognized risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
“We found that those who participated in the cardio or weight training program incurred fewer health care resources – such as doctor visits and lab tests – compared to those in the balance and toning program,” says Jennifer Davis, a postdoctoral fellow and lead author of the study.
The researchers tabulated the total costs incurred by each participant in accessing a variety of health care resources.
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