Study reveals that older people who are regularly sexually active have better cognitive function and mental health

Monday, April 04, 2016 by: Jennifer Lea Reynolds
Tags: seniors, sexual activity, brain function

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(NaturalNews) According to the American Psychological Association (APA), memory loss and aging go hand in hand. Everything from forgotten keys to the onset of dementia are common as people grow older.

"Although new neurons develop throughout our lives, our brains reach their maximum size during our early twenties and then begin very slowly to decline in volume," the APA states. "Blood flow to the brain also decreases over time. The good news is that many studies have shown that the brain remains capable of regrowth and of learning and retaining new facts and skills throughout life, especially for people who get regular exercise and frequent intellectual stimulation."

So, how can exercise help build brain power?

Researchers from the Centre for Research in Psychology, Behavior and Achievement at Coventry University in England looked into this, however it didn't involve the kind of exercise that might first come to mind in terms of gym workouts or walking around the block. They set out to examine physical activity when it involved interaction between the sheets; by looking at the sex lives of adults in England aged 50 to 89 over the course of one year, they were able to assess the link between an active sex life and improved brain functions of both men and women.

Study linking regular sexual activity and boost in brain power first of its kind

While the researchers' definition of an active sex life involved everything from intercourse to fondling, one thing was vehemently clear: Older people who engaged in regular sexual activity experienced improved brain function.

Their findings were published in the journal Age and Ageing in an article entitled, Sex on the brain! Associations between sexual activity and cognitive function in older age. Two kinds of differing cognitive function tests were administered and then reviewed. One involved number sequencing, which plays a role in executive function, and the other tests dealt with word recall, which deals with memory.

They note that few studies have been undertaken to determine the link between sexual activity and brain function, suggesting the importance behind their findings. They also point to some reviews in the past which have found "... that those experiencing cognitive decline and dementia engaged in fewer sexual activities than their cognitively intact, non-demented counterparts," suggesting that the topic warrants further investigation. As such, the article notes that, "This is the first study of this kind to explore the association between sexual activity and cognitive function in a large cohort of older, community-dwelling adults."

Both older men and women benefit from engaging in regular sexual activity

Ultimately, it was found that sexually active older men scored higher on both of the aforementioned tests, while sexually active older women seemed to benefit only in terms of memory skills. Interestingly, the published study also notes that "... sexually active men and women were more likely to have a higher level of education, be younger, wealthier, more physically active, not depressed, less lonely and have a better quality of life."

While these findings link a very basic human behavior with improved brain health, many health-conscious people of all ages are also aware that eating the right kinds of foods – ones that are void of herbicides and other toxic chemicals – also greatly contribute to healthy brain function.

Of course, eating the right foods also helps build brain power – Are you making healthy choices?

Fresh, healthy foods, rather than the Frankenfoods that make up many people's junk food diets, are essential for optimal brain health. These brain-boosting foods include artichokes, honeydew melon, kale, Swiss chard, pumpkin seeds, broccoli and avocado, to name just a few.

For more information on healthy food, especially as it relates to food safety and your overall health, be sure to check out Mike Adams' book, Food Forensics. It details the many ways you can protect yourself from food contamination so you can enjoy foods that help, rather than harm, your physical and mental health.

Sources for this article include:

CBSNews.com

APA.org^[PDF]

Ageing.OxfordJournals.org

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com

TruthWiki.org

Science.NaturalNews.com