The INDEPENDENT, April 1, 2004
For better brain, get more exercise
Health Notes
By Audeen Wagner
Open House Recognition
Party
A reminder that the everyone is invited to
the big party honoring Laura Nichols, P.A.,
on Saturday, April 3, at the Scout Cabin.
The hours are 11:00 to 2:00. There will be
presentations and speakers at noon, musi-
cal entertainment, and refreshments will be
served. There will be ample time for con-
versation and reminiscing with Laura, and
there will be a memory book available to sign.
Mammovan visit:
The next visit of the Tuality Mammovan will be on Wednesday,
April 21, 2004–this is a change, in case you’ve marked your cal-
endar. Please call the clinic at 503.429.9191 to schedule a mam-
mogram.
Welcome Additions
Jackson Oreste
Wilcoxen
Sydney Marie Fox
Kelley
Jackson Oreste Wilcoxen
was born March 10, 2004, the
first child of Eric and Shelly
Wilcoxen of Clackamas. He
weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces
and was 19 inches long.
Grandparents are Bill and
Darlene Wilcoxen of Vernonia
and John and Bev Crabtree of
Portland.
Great-grandparents
are Ms. Jones of Hills-
boro and Ms. Crabtree
of Clackamas.
Sydney Marie Fox Kelley
was born March 15, 2004, to
Jason and Michael Kelley of
Vernonia. She weighed 7
pounds, 13 ounces and was
19.5 inches long.
She joins her two brothers,
Austin Shadday and Nicholas
Kelley, and her sister, Katelyn
Shadday, at the family home.
Grandparents are Gary and
Diane Kelley of
Gilbert, Arizona.
Great-Grand-
parents are Ela-
nore Clinge of Syl-
mar,
Cali-
fornia, and Betty Kel-
ley of Gilbert, Arizona.
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fit or who had aerobic training
showed much more activity in
their brains when they worked
in 3-D type problems or on
tests that required particular
kinds of concentration.
Researchers identified spe-
cific functional differences in
regions of the brain that
changed with improved aerobic
fitness. These changes allowed
researchers to predict improve-
ments in performance on a de-
cision-making task.
Three groups of seniors
aged 58 to 78 participated in
the experiments. The first
group was asked to walk at dif-
ferent levels of activity. This is
essentially “aerobic” exercise,
designed to increase heart rate
and breathing. The second
group was asked to do “stretch-
ing” and “toning” exercise. A
third group was not asked to do
any additional exercise.
To determine changes, re-
searchers used magnetic reso-
nance imaging to measure
brain activity before and after a
six-month program of aerobic
exercise. The exercise involved
gradually increased periods of
walking over three months. In
the final three months of the
program, each subject walked
briskly for 45 minutes, three
sessions per week.
The study revealed that the
walkers, who exercised their
heart and lungs, received cog-
nitive benefits. The toners or in-
active group members showed
no benefits.
According to one of the re-
searchers, “The kinds of tasks
that we explored are similar to
those encountered in real world
situations, such as driving a ve-
hicle or any endeavor that re-
quires a person to pay attention
despite distractions.”
The conclusion is clear: Ex-
ercise and thinking go hand-in-
hand. Pay a visit to your local
sidewalk, treadmill, or even a
long hallway. Get moving and
get thinking.
Volkswalk scheduled for Vernonia EasterCantata
The Vernonia Classic, a ciation (AVA), a member of the on April 2 and 3
walking and bicycling event
sponsored by the Cedar Milers
Volkssports Club, is scheduled
for April 10. Included in the
day’s activities will be two 10-
kilometer (6.2 miles) walking
events and a 26-kilometer (16
miles) bicycling event. A short-
er 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) walk
will also be available.
Registration for all routes will
be at the Vernonia Pioneer Mu-
seum on East Bridge Street,
anytime between the hours of
8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Walk-
ers and cyclists should try to
complete the routes by 5:00
p.m. These events are open to
the public at no cost. All partic-
ipants must register and carry a
start card. Well-behaved pets
on leashes are welcome (Own-
ers must clean up after them.).
This event is sanctioned by
the American Volkssport Asso-
l
ou
b
A
International Federation of
Popular Sports (IVV). The
walks are eligible for IVV
Achievement Awards credit.
Credit fee is $3.00.
For those who would like to
get involved in the day, but not
as a walker or cyclist, the club
will welcome some extra volun-
teers to staff checkpoints and
assist with helping participants
find parking spaces. To volun-
teer or for more information,
contact walk coordinator, Dar
Parrow (yes, formerly of Ver-
nonia) at <parrowd@aol.com>
or by calling 503-614-8771.
For additional information,
contact Dar Parrow at numbers
above, or Will Glessner at <will-
ster@pacifier.com> or call 503-
520-8947. For a printable map
with directions, visit their web-
site at <www.seeformiles.com>.
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Want to have a brain that is
more efficient, flexible and
adaptive as you grow older?
The latest research, pub-
lished in February by research-
ers from four departments at the
University of Illinois, provides
the key: Get more exercise.
No matter how old or infirm
you are, your brain will gain
benefits from “aerobic” exer-
cise, such as walking.
Science has known for some
time that exercise enhances
cognitive skills in aging ani-
mals. Now new studies demon-
strate that this is true for hu-
mans, too.
Normal aging is associated
with changes in the ability to
consciously learn and retain
new information. With normal
aging, declines in certain men-
tal functions occur, particularly
“executive control” processes
such as planning, scheduling,
coordinating and selective at-
tention.
People who were physically
Al
Page 8
Open Monday thru Saturday 9 – 7
Kathy Wolfe
503-429-4650
Cell 503-804-2844
1800 State Ave. Vernonia Licensed
This year’s Easter Cantata,
“God’s Holy Lamb,” will be April
2 and 3 at Washington Grade
School. The April 2 show will
be at 7:30 p.m. On April 3,
there will be two shows, one at
3:00 p.m. and one at 7:30 p.m.
The Cantata is presented by
a community choir directed by
Lynda Cahill. Performances
are free, though donations will
be accepted to defray costs.
Help sought for
Jamboree needs
The Vernonia Friendship
Jamboree committee is slowly
filling key positions, with Paula
Hansen and Ron Wright as-
suming the responsibilities of
co-vice-presidents, and Janet
Holcomb as the new secretary.
Christine Purvee will continue
as treasurer this year.
The position of president is
still unfilled and former presi-
dent Randy Parrow has offered
to mentor the new president
through this year.
The next meeting will be 7-
9:00 p.m. on April 8 at the
Washington Grade School Li-
brary. Everyone interested in
being involved with the com-
munity festival is welcome.