December 23, 2008 – Regular, moderate aerobic exercise may not only slow cognitive decline, but also reverse the aging process of the brain, US study finds1.
The researchers collated the results of studies on the effects of physical and aerobic exercise on the performance of cognitive functions and on the volume of the brain in elderly people with or without dementia.
Their synthesis shows that six months of moderate aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, would be sufficient to improve the cognitive functions of the brain. This improvement would also be accompanied by an increase in gray matter in the region of the frontal lobes.
The authors point to a study that evaluated the effects of physical activity on the brain for six months in people aged 60 to 75 as an example. One group of subjects did brisk walking for 45 minutes three times a week, and the other group engaged in strength training and stretching exercises. People in the brisk walking group not only improved their physical fitness, but also their cognitive functions, including memory and ability to concentrate, compared to subjects in the other group.
There are still several questions to be answered about the effects of exercise on the brain, the researchers note. However, they can argue that an active lifestyle regimen that includes moderate aerobic exercise can improve cognitive brain functions and even reverse neurological decline in the elderly.
Carole Boulé – PasseportSanté.net
According to Reuters Health.
1. Erickson KI, Kramer AF. Aerobic exercise effects on cognitive and neural plasticity in older adults, Br J Sports Med 2008 Oct 16.
