Better brain health begins in the bedroom

If you eat healthy and exercise daily, then you may think you’re doing everything you can to ward off dementia as you age. And you are doing two of the most important things to protect your cognitive health…

But there’s one more lifestyle habit you should adopt ASAP if you want to keep your cognitive health intact… and it takes place in the bedroom.

No, I’m not talking about sleeping (although, a good night’s sleep definitely won’t hurt your cause). I’m talking about the other health-giving habit that takes place between the sheets — sex.

Based on a recent study from researchers at Coventry and Oxford Universities, a satisfying sex life offers powerful protection to an aging brain…

The sexy solution to cognitive decline

In a study published in The Journals of Gerontology, Coventry University and Oxford University researchers found that people who had sex regularly had better cognitive function.

The study included 73 people between the ages of 50 and 83 who took tests that measured their attention, memory, fluency, language and visuospatial ability.

In the verbal fluency test, participants were given 60 seconds to name as many animals as they could, and then list as many words beginning with F as possible. In the visuospatial test, participants had to copy a complex design and draw a clock face from memory.

In addition to these tests, participants also had to tell researchers how frequently they’d had sex in the past 12 months— never, monthly or weekly. And guess what?

Those who reported engaging in weekly sexual activity scored significantly better on both the verbal fluency and visuospatial ability tests. Researchers say this means their working memory and executive function are operating better than people who don’t get frisky as often.

This test confirms the results of a 2016 study that also found older people who had more sex scored better on cognitive tests.

Researchers don’t know exactly why frequent sex leads to better brain power in older adults, but they suspect it could be due to the brain chemicals released during sexual activity—dopamine and oxytocin—and how they affect your overall brain function.

Keep getting frisky well past 50

So if you care about your cognitive health, it’s time to embrace your sexy side. Sex is, after all, the most pleasurable activity you can do in the name of good brain health.

Of course, for many, that means overcoming the stereotype that your sex life slows down (or stops altogether) once you get past a certain age. You need to keep getting frisky well past 50 if you want to make a mark on your long-term cognitive health.

“People don’t like to think that older people have sex,” said lead researcher Dr. Hayley Wright from Coventry University’s Centre for Research in Psychology, Behavior and Achievement. “But we need to challenge this conception at a societal level and look at what impact sexual activity can have on those aged 50 and over, beyond the known effects on sexual health and general wellbeing.”

Editor’s Note: The health of your brain and your sex life are more intertwined that you could ever imagine… That’s because your mind’s most essential nutrient for optimal brain health, faster thinking and a picture-perfect memory is the same nutrient your body needs to make your sex hormones. But 13 million Americans are taking a certain pill everyday that steals it. Are you one of them? Click here to find out…

Sources:

1. “Frequent sexual activity can boost brain power in older adults.” — Science Daily. Retrieved June 22, 2017.

2. Wright, et al. “Frequent Sexual Activity Predicts Specific Cognitive Abilities in Older Adults.” — The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2017.