New research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has shown that any form of exercise can improve memory and brain function regardless of age.
The systematic umbrella review included an analysis of 133 systematic reviews that featured over 2,700 randomized controlled trials and a total of over 258,000 participants. Every review that was included in the analysis examined the effects of exercise on general cognition, memory, and/or executive function. It is well known that exercise has a positive impact on physical health as well as brain health, and the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of exercise on brain power across populations and ages by analyzing reviews of randomized controlled trials.
The results showed that exercise significantly improved memory, executive function, and general cognition across all ages and populations. In general, low- and moderate-intensity exercise showed the greatest benefits for the brain. People with ADHD showed the greatest gains in executive function when they got more exercise. Of all the types of exercise included in the study, yoga, tai chi, and video games that require physical movement had the largest effects on general cognition and memory.
The authors of the study noted that even very low-intensity exercise, such as yoga or walking, had a significant impact on cognition across all ages. Brain benefits were also seen relatively quickly, with gains happening within one to three months of starting to exercise regularly. Exercise that incorporates both the mind and the body showed particularly large benefits for memory and cognition. Exercise has significant benefits for the heart and other aspects of physical health, and this study showed that even low-dose, low-intensity exercise is also very beneficial for the brain throughout one’s lifetime.
Sources: British Journal of Sports Medicine, Science Daily
