Strength training has long been seen as something you mainly do to build muscle or look good. Every couple of years, participants reported how much time they spent on strength training and aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling and swimming. Over time, regular resistance training can help lower blood pressure and keep arteries flexible rather than stiff, which protects against cardiovascular disease. The link between strength training and brain health is newer and less certain, but plausible. It was observational, so although it can show a strong link between strength training and a longer life, it can’t prove that one directly causes the other.