Video: Study: Mental decline can begin at 45

>>> a new study is gruning the attention of a lot of folks in their 40s and has to do with mental function . a study just published suggests that memory and other brain functions start to wane as young as 45. that's much earlier, much,much earlier than many of us thought. researchers are trying to figure out what the results could mean. nbc news's robert bizell is joinings and you this could be a big deal to a lot of folks.

>> it's not a surprise for those of us north of 45. it may be a surprise to those of us who are younger or in that age range. you know that you start to lose proper names and things on a much more frequent time, much more often when you get older. it's a natural process of aging. that is not a surprise. the changes were greatest in people who were in their 40s and it went about 3.6% decline and in their late 60s about 7%. this was a study of 7,000.

>> over years.

>> this is real.

>> extensive.

>> you have to understand that this is an average of people. this doesn't mean that when you reach such an age, you will lose that much of your mental function . some people among these thousands were losing a lot and others were probably not losing much at all. it has to do with our worries about the on set of dementia and science is starting to realize that dementia is say process that takes place over many decades and doesn't begin when somebody is in their 60s, 70s and 80s.

>> studies are important because as we all live longer, there is going to be a great deal of attention paid to the way doctors treat cognitive issues like this.

>> yes, but the thing is and this paper makes a point of this. the biggest realization about cognitive function is the saying that is what is good for your heart is good for your brain. the more that people stay in shape and exercise and watch their weight, the better brain function is. the take home message is that things do start to change in your 40s, but you can do something about it. stay in shape which is good for a lot of your and not just your brain.

>> bob bizell whose cognitive function has never been called into

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/newsnation/45903489/

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