Researchers have found that physical activity it can help protect cognitive abilities as we age. The study findings were published in the journal Sport Sciences for Health.
“This finding doesn’t say, ‘If you’re older, you should go out and start running marathons,'” said Marissa Gogniat, the study’s lead author and a recent psychology doctorate graduate from Franklin College of Arts. and Sciences.
He added: “This says that if you get more steps, if you move around a little more, that can be helpful for your brain health and keep you more independent as you age.”
The study followed 51 older adults, tracking their Measurements of physical activity and physical condition.. The participants took tests specifically designed to measure cognitive functioning and underwent MRIs to assess brain function.
They also wore a device that measured the intensity of the user’s physical activity, the number of steps taken and the distance traveled. The researchers assessed fitness through a six-minute walk test, during which the participants walked as fast as they could to cover the greatest possible distance within the time limit.
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“We’ve always been told that it’s good to exercise, but I think this is evidence that exercise can actually change the brain,” Gogniat said. “And that affects how you can function in your daily life.”
The brain is made up of a lot of different networks. These networks are in constant communication, sending information to each other.
But different parts of the brain are active at different times. The network that is active when the body is at rest, for example, is turned off when a person starts trying to complete a task. At that time, another network is activated.
While one of these networks is active, the other must be turned off. If it doesn’t, it’s a sign that a person’s brain isn’t working as well as it should.
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These networks are the key to being able to perform basic tasks in daily life, such as remembering important information and exhibiting self-control. But as people get older, these tasks often get more difficult.
This study was the first to examine how these networks interact with physical activity and fitness to affect brain function.
“This article is exciting because it gives us some evidence that when people whose brain networks are not working optimally engage in physical activity, we see an improvement in their executive function and independence,” Gogniat said. “We’re not saying you need to radically change your life.
He continued, “Maybe just take the stairs on the way to work. Get up and walk around a bit more. That’s where you get the most bang for your buck, not crazy high-intensity exercise.”
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