Exercise as Medicine
Moving to Help My Brain
I’ve always been an active person. As a kid, I was the girl sprinting from basketball practice to cheerleading practice with a tennis racket wedged somewhere in between. In college, staying active was effortless, from intramural sports to long walks across campus.
Then adulthood showed up with its briefcase and calendar alerts. Long hours, travel and meetings that filled my days. Exercise became something I had to fight to keep, but I still found ways to move, usually super early before work.
I’ve had my “eras”: ALTA tennis, a full-blown spinning phase, and my half-marathon moment (half… because let’s be reasonable). These days, I’ve embraced Florida’s favorite pastimes: pickleball and golf. My daughters lovingly call them “old fart sports.”
Why It’s Different Now
Then came the gene test. And the clinical trial. And the moment I realized—this isn’t theoretical anymore. This is my brain we’re talking about. My future. My memories. My life.
Since learning about my risk, exercise doesn’t feel optional. It doesn’t even feel like “fitness.”
It feels like medicine.
Like one of the tools I can actually control. A daily decision that whispers, I’m still fighting.
There are moments—quiet ones, usually—when the fear sneaks in. When I think about my mom. My grandmother. When I imagine what it would feel like to lose little pieces of myself. Those moments light a fire under me. Sometimes a gentle one, sometimes a full-on bonfire.
But either way, I move.
I joined a new gym. It’s crowded and a bit loud, but it’s close to home and has everything—free weights, barre, classes, treadmills, the works. And right now? Convenience means consistency. And consistency means hope.
What the Research Says
Science keeps telling the same story, and I’m listening like my life depends on it:
Aerobic exercise boosts blood flow and may reduce amyloid buildup.
Strength training preserves muscle, metabolism, and sends brain-healthy hormones rushing.
Balance + flexibility = fewer falls, more independence, and a better shot at aging well.
The sweet spot: 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity + 2 days of strength training.
Totally doable. And the payoff? Studies show regular exercise can lower the risk of cognitive decline by 30–40%.
Also, shoutout to the 102-year-old woman in France who still drives and teaches yoga twice a week. If she’s not my spirit animal, I don’t know who is.
My Reality
Let’s be clear: I don’t bounce out of bed every morning ready to sweat. Some days, the motivation is literally: If I go to the gym, I can split dessert later. And honestly? That works just fine.
I mix it up—weight circuits, pickleball, golf (walking the course definitely counts). Steps are steps.
And after I move, I feel different. Stronger in my body, yes, but also more grounded in my mind. Strength feels like hope.
Why I Keep Moving
When I think about the life I want, it’s vivid: Grandkids someday, long dinners, travel, laughter, golf with friends, holidays, memories that stay intact.
So I move.
For my muscles.
For my heart.
But mostly for my brain.
Every step, every swing, every curl is my way of saying:
I’m here. And I’m not giving up.