Walking, Gardening, Swimming, Dancing May Prevent Brain Shrinkage in Older Adults Editor's note: Older people who regularly walk, garden, swim or dance may have bigger brains than their inactive peers, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 72nd Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, April 25 to May 1, 2020. The effect of exercise was equal to four fewer years of brain aging. March 05, 2020