The latest IDEA Fitness Journal cites some interesting research published recently in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine by O’Connor, Herring, & Carvalho (2010).  The researchers wrote on the mental health benefits of strength training in adults.  If you have a chance, get the IDEA January 2012 edition.  It has such valuable articles backed up by current research.  For example, these researchers I just mentioned cite seven randomised controlled studies that show resistance training improves several aspects of cognition in healthy older adults; one profound effect being improved memory.  Another benefit is improved executive function – this has nothing to do with your boss – but it has a lot to do with the control centre of your brain!  Improved executive function in the brain (the “command-and-control” function of cognition) is linked to resistance training (Anderson-Hanley, Nimon & Western, 2010) as well as cardiovascular exercise (Colombe & Framer, 2003).  Perhaps this is why eta students do well while they study with us – they exercise hard so they get smarter!
Linda Halliday