Regularly riding an electric bicycle would have a positive impact on the mental health and well-being of seniors, much more than the classic bicycle.
Yet another proof of the benefits of sport on aging. According to a British study published in the specialized journal Plos One, regularly riding an electric bicycle would have a positive impact on the mental health of seniors. And, surprisingly, the electric bike, even though it is famous for “not being physical enough”, would be more efficient than the classic.
To arrive at these conclusions, researchers from the universities of Reading and D’Oxford brookes followed 100 people aged 50 to 83, non-cyclists, for eight weeks. The participants were divided into three groups. The first had to ride a classic bike three times thirty minutes a week. The second followed the same program but with electric bikes. The third, meanwhile, did not ride a bike at all.
At the end of the study, the researchers observed a marked improvement in the cognitive functions of the first two groups. Indeed, participants who had cycled regularly were better able to plan, organize and execute tasks submitted by scientists. They then followed a few participants via an online questionnaire. Several months later, nearly two-thirds of them still said their well-being had improved from before the study. In addition, 58% of them said they had continued cycling while 27% had stopped but wanted to get back to it.
Another observation and not the least: the people who used an electric bicycle had felt more well-being than the others during the study and had therefore better accomplished the cognitive tasks imposed by the scientists.
“Increase the mobility of seniors and reduce their isolation and depression”
Thus, “it is not only the physical activity aspect of cycling that helps seniors. Electric bikes require less physical effort than conventional bikes and are often more enjoyable for participants because they can circulate for longer without having to to worry about not being able to come back. They can cover greater distances in less time (…), which encourages them to cycle more. Participants who rode electric bicycles wanted to do so. longer than others on average (…). Increasing the independence of seniors, their mobility and reducing their isolation and depression should have positive impacts on their mental health and cognitive functions, ”notes the study. Another beneficial aspect of these bikes: reconnecting seniors with nature by pushing them to spend more time outdoors, say the researchers.
In conclusion, “we found that some aspects of mental health and well-being increased in participants who used an e-bike over the past eight weeks. It would be good to see the effects of using the e-bike. on the cognition and well-being of a larger sample of participants, over a longer period, “explains Louise-Ann Leyland, researcher at University College London, in charge of research.
In 2016, a study had already highlighted the benefits of the electric bike, especially on human heart health. American researchers at the University of Colorado had encouraged volunteers to swap their vehicle for an electric bicycle to go to work at least three times a week. At term, they had observed in the participants a loss of 400 grams of fat mass, an increase in the maximum volume of oxygen in the lungs, and better blood pressure. In addition, their glucose level was lower two hours after hyperglycemia induced in the laboratory, revealing better control of their blood sugar.
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