Researchers have discovered that physical activity can help protect cognitive abilities as we grow older. The results of this study were published in the journal “Sport Sciences for Health”.
“This finding isn’t saying,’If you’re old, you need to go there and start running a marathon,'” said the lead author of the study, Psychology at Franklin University of the Arts. Marissa Gognat, who graduated from her recent PhD program, said. And science.
She added, “This will help your brain health if you get more steps, if you are moving a little more in your environment, and will make you more as you get older. I’m saying that I can continue to be independent. “
This study tracked 51 older people and tracked physical activity and fitness measurements. Participants performed tests specially designed to measure cognitive function and underwent MRI to assess brain function.
They also wore devices to measure the strength, steps, and mileage of the wearer’s physical activity. Researchers evaluated fitness through a 6-minute gait test. In this test, participants walked as fast as possible to cover the longest possible distance within the time limit.
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“We’ve always been told that it’s good to exercise, but I think this is some evidence that exercise can actually change your brain,” Gogniat said. .. “And it affects the way you can function in your daily life.”
The brain is made up of many different networks. These networks are constantly communicating and sending information to each other.
However, different parts of the brain are active at different times. For example, a network that is active when the body is stationary turns off when a person tries to complete a task. At that time, another network will start.
While one of these networks is active, the other should be shut down. If not, it indicates that the human brain is not functioning properly.
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These networks are the key to being able to perform basic tasks of daily life, such as remembering important information and exercising self-control. But as people get older, these tasks often become more difficult.
This study was the first to investigate how these networks interact with physical activity and fitness to affect brain function.
“Because this paper gives us some evidence that executive function and independence are improved when people whose brain networks are not functioning optimally are engaged optimally in physical activity. It’s exciting, “Gogniat said. “We are not saying that you need to radically change your life.
She went on to say, “Maybe you just go up the stairs on your way to work. Get up and walk a little more. Here you can make money instead of crazy and strenuous exercise.”
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