In a new study, researchers found running and lifting weights might be a crucial step in helping the body delay the effects of aging, but those exercises may not delay brain aging effectively.
The team found that the type of activity people choose may also have an effect on their brain’s response to aging—and may even help improve their cognitive function.
The research was conducted by a team from the University of Georgia.
The team studied more than 70 reviews of previous studies comparing the benefits of exercise along with the benefits of exercise plus some type of cognitive component.
They found more improvement among participants when exercise was paired with some type of skill than with exercise alone.
The people that were in training programs that were more complex performed better on tests of executive function and memory.
This means that an activity that requires some sort of extra thought or skill while people are doing it—for example, choreographed dancing, running through an obstacle course, mountain biking or even low-impact activities, such as juggling—can be beneficial not only in that they get you moving, but they also help improve your brain function.
The team says people navigate a complex world in those activities, and it’s the navigation of the body as they move that influences how people process information, problem solve and remember things.
The fundamental factor is the amount of mental engagement that’s in the task.
The team says this may be an important factor to consider as people age. If there was a possibility that the activities we choose as people age could help stave off those effects, it may cause some to re-evaluate their exercise routine.
The current recommendation is that people have to do an aerobic activity three days a week, and people need to improve their physical fitness because that changes the brain.
But the data is suggesting that it may not be sufficient. It takes more than mindlessly exercising on a bicycle or a treadmill to keep the brain young.
The bottom line, it’s not just running or lifting weights—along with doing crossword puzzles—that may slow the aging process.
Rather, it’s the combination of the mental and physical activity that seems to hold the most benefit, no matter your age.
The lead author of the study is Philip Tomporowski, a professor of kinesiology in the UGA College of Education.
The study is published in Psychological Bulletin.
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