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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | DECEMBER 2025 7 By Clare Mendez, Resident I recently had a cold. Nothing much, just the snies and a sore throat, but I still wanted to get some daily exercise, so I tapped into Articial Intelligence to get the low down on whether or not exercising would keep me from getting over the cold quicker or should I refrain from exercise until my symptoms subsided. I typed into Google: "Should I still exercise with cold symptoms?" Here's what it stated: It depends on how bad your cold is and what symptoms you're having. Here's a general rule of thumb doctors and trainers oen use: It's okay to work out if: • Your symptoms are "above the neck" — mild sore throat, nasal congestion, sneezing, or runny nose. • You don't have a fever. • You feel generally okay and have enough energy. In that case, light to moderate exercise (like walking, easy cycling, stretching, or yoga) is ne and might even help you feel better. Just keep it lower intensity than usual and stay well hydrated. Skip or rest if: • You have "below the neck" symptoms — chest congestion, cough that's deep or productive, upset stomach, body aches, fatigue, or fever. • You feel weak, dizzy, or short of breath. • You're still in the rst couple of days of being sick (when your body needs rest most). Exercising hard when you're sick can slow recovery and, in some cases, make things worse. Tips: • If you go to a gym, be considerate — cold viruses spread easily. • Test for Covid, and don't attend events at the Lodge until you have been clear of symptoms and test negative for at least ve days. • Wash hands regularly with soap and water or disinfectant and wear a mask in public. • A better choice is to walk outdoors or do light exercises at home. • Ease back into your normal routine once you're symptom- free for a couple of days. AI is a wonderful tool to get some advice or facts on just about everything. When I did a Google search (like the above inquiry about exercising), AI that nds the answer from algorithms collected from vast amounts of data. Another popular site is ChatGPT. Again, I turned to AI to ask if using AI is benecial for older adults to use as a memory tool, or is it harmful due to the fact that we no longer have to memorize an answer once it is researched. Aer all, if we forget the answer, we can just ask AI again (if you keep your phone handy). Here's what Google has to say about that: AI is benecial for older adults by providing assistance with daily tasks, enhancing safety, and oering cognitive support. However, excessive reliance on AI could potentially diminish memory and critical thinking. e overall impact depends on how and how oen AI tools are used. Point to Ponder: Generations Z, Alpha, and so on will no doubt be using AI regularly in their lives and studies. I wonder how it will impact their long term memory strength and critical thinking as they age. Should I exercise with cold symptoms? I asked AI Test for Covid, and don't attend events at the Lodge until with cold symptoms?

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