Physical activity may protect your brain as you age
Even just a few more steps a day benefits cognitive function
Date:
March 8, 2022
Source:
University of Georgia
Summary:
We all know we should exercise and eat healthy foods. But doing
that isn't just good for maintaining your figure as you age. New
research shows that physical activity could help protect your
cognitive abilities as you age. And it doesn't have to be intense
exercise to make an impact.
FULL STORY ==========================================================================
We all know we should exercise and eat healthy. But doing that isn't
just good for maintaining your figure as you age.
==========================================================================
New research from the University of Georgia shows that physical activity
could help protect your cognitive abilities as you age. And it doesn't
have to be intense exercise to make an impact.
"This finding isn't saying, 'If you're older, you need to go out there
and start running marathons,'" said Marissa Gogniat, lead author of the
study and a recent doctoral graduate in psychology from the Franklin
College of Arts and Sciences. "This is saying if you get more steps,
if you're moving around your environment a little bit more, that can be
helpful to your brain health and keep you more independent as you age." Exercise improves brain function Published in Sport Sciences for Health,
the study followed 51 older adults, tracking their physical activity
and fitness measurements. The participants performed tests specifically designed to measure cognitive functioning and underwent MRIs to assess
brain functioning.
They also wore a device that measured the intensity of the wearer's
physical activity, number of steps taken and distance covered. The
researchers assessed fitness through a six-minute walking test, during
which participants walked as quickly as they could to cover the most
distance possible within the time limit.
========================================================================== "We've always been told it's good to exercise, but I think this is some evidence that exercise can actually change your brain," Gogniat said. "And
that impacts the way you're able to function in your daily life."
Brain networks improve with physical activity The brain is made up of a
bunch of distinct networks. Those 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, flips off
when a person starts trying to complete a task. At that time, another
network kicks on.
While one of these networks is active, the other should be shut off. If
it's not, that's a sign that a person's brain isn't functioning as well
as it should be.
========================================================================== 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 age, these tasks often become more difficult.
This study was the first to examine how these networks interact with
physical activity and fitness to impact how the brain functions.
"This paper is exciting because it gives us some evidence that when
people whose brain networks aren't functioning optimally engage in
physical activity, we see improvement in their executive function and
their independence," Gogniat said. "We're not saying you need to radically change your life.
"Maybe just take the stairs on the way to work. Stand up and walk around
a little bit more. That's where you get the most bang for your buck,
not crazy, high-intensity exercise." The study was co-authored by
Talia Robinson, Kharine Jean and Stephen Miller, from UGA's Department
of Psychology.
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Georgia. Original
written by Leigh Beeson.
Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Marissa A. Gogniat, Talia L. Robinson, Kharine R. Jean, L. Stephen
Miller. Physical activity and fitness moderate the association
between executive function and anti-correlated networks
in the aging brain. Sport Sciences for Health, 2022; DOI:
10.1007/s11332-021-00887-9 ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220308155637.htm
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