You know the drill: exercise is critical to maintaining your physical health while aging. But new research indicates that we should take this a step further to improve our mental health as well. This new study, published in Lancet Psychiatry, found a significant association between exercise and self-reported mental health. While more research needs to be done to find a direct cause and effect, the message is pretty clear. Getting yourself involved in exercise, especially in group activities such as team sports, can really help with depression, stress or other mental health burdens that arise. To learn more about this research, and how different physical activities can help improve your mood, put on your sweats and read this Wall Street Journal article Here (paywall).

And the new Lancet study seems to suggest that such activities as yoga and tai chi can also help lighten mental health stressors because of the mindfulness they require. For a fascinating peek into how the mind-body connection can help with healthy aging, check out this recent profile in The New York Times about Dr. Kirk Daffner, Director of the Center for Brain/Mind Medicine of Harvard, and how his practice of Pankration, an ancient Greek style of Karate, has helped him and his 90-year-old Pankration teacher to maintain healthy minds while aging.