Exercise plays a crucial role in the health and longevity of the heart and brain over time. As humans age, cognitive function is shown to decline, however, exercise and physical activity can slow down this process. Improvements in cognition from exercise include enhanced neurogenesis and increased attention and learning. These benefits from exercise may be attributed to the secretion of critical circulating factors into the bloodstream, which work similarly to hormones as they influence the health and function of distal organs, such as the heart and the brain. A growing body of evidence has suggested a positive relationship between circulating levels of the one of these circulating factors, Klotho (the longevity factor), with cardiovascular and/or cognitive function. How each individual responds to different rehabilitation/exercise programs varies significantly, and to date there is no cost and time effective way to measure if a prescribed program is effective in slowing down an individual’s cognitive decline. Current methods are assessed through quantification of functional measures which may take weeks, months, or even years.
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