We all know that scientists have indicated that the fitter you are, the better your brain works when you are old.  Some recent research by Dr Claire Steves, done on twins over a 10 year period has revealed a striking correlation between having strong leg muscles and an increased capacity on memory test.  In surveys of over 160 pairs of twins they found that on average the twin who had the stronger legs had an 18% better performance on memory and cognitive tests 10 years later.  To be 18% better than somebody on memory tests is a substantial amount and so, a result like this should not be underestimated.  The importance of doing it on twins is to try and have data about people who had the same genetic background as well as the same upbringing when they were smaller.  It would allow scientists to then say that whatever differences have happened between those two people over the years would relate to the lifestyle that they have had.  They also tested the actual muscle strength of the legs because they feel that a lot of people, when asked how much they exercise, don’t necessarily give accurate information and of course by testing the leg muscles they would be able to see scientifically who was exercising and who was not, because the strength and the exercise would necessarily correlate.  I will leave the final quote in this interesting survey to Dr Steves in an interview that she gave to the New York times where she said, “… To be honest, I am someone who has always in the past prioritised work of the mind over work of the body.  This study brings home to me that the brain needs exercise to keep fit.”