Despite being 76, Arnold Schwarzenegger does not skip the gym. The seven-time Mr. Olympia’s lifetime love for working out means he’s still a regular at California’s famous Gold’s Gym. Arnie always rides his bike to Gold’s Gym, ensuring he gets regular cardio sessions with strength training in the gym. Now, research has found a new benefit to the Terminator’s daily habit.

Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed a startling fact about brain health in his newsletter. “Did you know your brain starts to shrink about five percent per decade after age forty?” wrote the bodybuilding icon. However, there’s a way to offset this worrying phenomenon, and cardio could be the answer.

Arnold Schwarzenegger explains how to reverse the damage

The bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-governor said while brain shrinkage is a natural side effect of aging, it doesn’t have to be. The former Mr. Universe explained that research suggests “regular cardiovascular exercise can reduce or prevent brain atrophy.” The scientists who conducted the study also found the level of activity required for tangible benefits.

They estimated that adults need around “2.5 hours of low-intensity activity, 1.5 hours of moderate-intensity activity, or 1 hour of high-intensity activity every week.” The adults who adhered to these cardio recommendations had brains that looked “four years younger than those who are inactive,” the 76-year-old wrote in Arnold’s Pump Club.

The study involved over 1,500 people who belong to Schwarzenegger’s age group, with an average age of 75. The study found that cardiovascular exercise improves blood flow and nutrient delivery to brain cells. Hence, those who engaged in physical activity had “younger, larger” brains. Arnold Schwarzenegger also added his take on exercise intensity.

The champion bodybuilder explained that “all different intensities of exercise” are useful. The harder someone pushes the intensity, the less time they need to spend in the gym. Hence, it’s important to “start somewhere.” This isn’t the first piece of advice Arnie gave about brain health in his newsletter.

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Arnie’s tips to boost brain health

The bodybuilding icon has written about other methods to boost brain health. Besides cardio, recovery also plays a massive role in improving brain health. Schwarzenegger has repeatedly highlighted the benefits of proper sleep. Proper sleep is essential in preventing everything from heart disease to neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.

The Austrian Oak has also highlighted studies involving supplements. In a recent edition of Arnold’s Pump Club, the former governor explained how vitamin D might be effective in preventing the formation of brain plaque that’s found in Alzheimer’s patients. While the popular perception of cardio is that it’s boring, Arnold Schwarzenegger just gave people a reason to reconsider their views.

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