We often hear that high-intensity workouts are good for our brains, but what if you’re not up for a hardcore gym session? New research brings good news!
A study from the University of Tsukuba and the University of California, Irvine shows that even mild forms of exercise like walking and yoga can make a difference in how well older adults think and make decisions.
In the past, most studies have looked at the benefits of intense, long-term exercise on brain function. The downside is that not everyone is keen on, or able to commit to, such rigorous routines.
This new study shifts the focus and suggests that even easier forms of exercise, done regularly, can improve brain performance.
The Experiment: Biking to a Better Brain
Researchers recruited middle-aged and older people, aged between 55 and 78, for this study. They divided them into two groups.
One group did low-intensity bike riding three times a week for three months. The other group just went on with their everyday lives and did not do any special exercise.
The researchers used tests and brain scans to measure a particular kind of brain activity called “executive function” — basically, how good you are at making decisions, focusing, and multitasking.
They did this before and after the three months of exercise.
What Happened: Better Brains Through Gentle Exercise
The results? The people who did the light biking showed clear improvement in their decision-making abilities compared to those who didn’t exercise.
Even more interesting was that the oldest folks in the exercise group, those aged 68 to 78, showed the most improvement.
The brain scans revealed something exciting as well. The part of the brain that controls executive function, called the prefrontal cortex, was working more efficiently in the exercise group.
In simpler terms, these people’s brains did a better job but without having to work as hard. The brain became more efficient at its tasks.
The Takeaway: No Gym? No Problem!
This study shows us that keeping our brains in good shape doesn’t necessarily require heavy lifting or sprinting.
Even light, stress-free exercises like a leisurely bike ride or a walk in the park can offer significant benefits, especially for older adults who might find intense workouts difficult or unappealing.
The findings open up new possibilities for designing easy-to-follow workout plans that can help older adults boost their brain health.
So, if you’ve been holding back from exercise because it seemed too daunting, this might be your sign to start small. Your brain will thank you!
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and Coconut oil could help improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s.
The study was published in GeroScience.
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