A new study has shown that weightlifting could help improve cognitive functions.
The study is from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The researchers found that resistance exercise, such as weightlifting, could benefit people’s attention, reasoning, and memory.
Previously, scientists have found that exercise could provide lots of health and physical benefits.
Weightlifting as a popular resistance training could help improve heart health and reduce the risk of diabetes.
For example, one recent study showed that resistance training could benefit people with prediabetes and reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes.
The participants in that study did exercise for 60 minutes per day, three non-consecutive days per week for two years.
The results showed the incidence of type 2 diabetes was decreased by 65% in the participants.
Another study showed that regular muscle strength training could benefit heart health.
Researchers in that study found that the loss of muscle strength and mass is a risk factor of heart disease, especially in older people.
A third study showed that resistance training can improve the health of people who are 65 years and older.
It can help improve blood vessel health and muscle strength, even older people just do it once a week.
Older people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood glucose, or high levels of inflammation could get the most benefit from resistance training.
In the present study, the researchers examined how resistance training can help with emotional and cognitive well-being.
They conducted a review and analysis of previously published results in the field. Their analysis included more than 20 published papers.
The team focuses on cognitive impairment, executive function, and working memory.
They found that resistance exercise programs improve cognitive health as well as physical health.
Resistance training is linked to lower cognitive impairment and higher executive function.
The researchers explain that this may be because resistance training requires planning and focusing on the details of lifting weights and body positioning.
These are highly related to a person’s executive function and attention, but not to working memory.
The team suggests that their study helps with understanding the link between physical health and cognitive and mental health.
Future research should focus on how the duration, frequency, and intensity of resistance training could influence cognitive functions.
The study lead author is Daniel Mirman, Ph.D., associate professor in the UAB College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology.
The research is published in Psychological Research.
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