Study Finds That Exercise At Any Age Boosts Brain Health

A new study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry has found that any regular exercise at any age can help to preserve memory and cognitive function in later life. The Pharmacist reports that the study was carried out over a 30 year period by researchers from University College London Medical School. 

The 1,417 participants were all born in 1946, and they were asked to report on how frequently they participated in physical activity at intervals between the ages of 36 and 69. Cognitive abilities were then assessed with tests for verbal memory, cognitive state, and processing speed at the age of 69.

The researchers concluded that there was a clear correlation between higher cognition and rates of physical activity. While lifelong exercise habits were thought to be most beneficial, any physical activity had a positive effect on cognitive function. 

The report concluded: ‘Being physically active at any time in adulthood, even if participating as little as once per month, is linked with higher cognition.’

It continued: ‘Together, these results suggest that the initiation and maintenance of physical activity across adulthood may be more important than the timing of participating in physical activity in the life course, or the frequency of physical activity at a specific period.’

‘Our findings provide evidence that encouraging inactive adults to be more active at any time across the life span, and encouraging already active adults to maintain activity, could confer benefits on later-life cognition.’

Meanwhile, preliminary findings from a 20 year study into reducing the risk of developing dementia have recently been presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in Boston, The Guardian reports. 

The US based study followed 13,720 female participants who were aged around 54 at the beginning of the study. They were followed up at various stages, and at the end of two decades, 1,771 participants had gone on to develop dementia symptoms. 

From their findings, the researchers identified seven factors that could potentially reduce the chances of developing dementia. These included staying physically active, eating healthily, avoiding putting on excess weight, maintaining normal blood pressure, and controlling cholesterol and blood sugar levels. 

The researchers stressed the importance of starting good habits in middle age, because conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease can begin to develop in the brain years before the symptoms become apparent. 

Pamela Rist, an associate epidemiologist in the division of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women’s hospital in Boston and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, commented: 

“It can be empowering for people to know that by taking steps such as exercising for half an hour a day or keeping their blood pressure under control, they can reduce their risk of dementia.”

According to Dementia UK, over one million people in the UK will have a dementia diagnosis by the year 2025. There is currently no cure or treatment that can significantly halt the rate of progress of the disease. 

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