"This study shows how important physical activity is for adults as they get older, and in general for avoiding the worst impacts of mental fatigue on cognitive and physical performance,” said corresponding author of the study, Professor Chris Ring from the University of Birmingham, in a press release.
"This research from our ongoing international collaborative venture confirms that regular physical activity has a host of benefits, with increased physical fitness associated with improved cognition, increased exercise capacity, and greater mental fatigue resilience,” he added.
The researchers conducted two studies for the research. In the first, they found that sedentary men aged between 65 and 79 years old performed worse in cognitive and physical tests than younger individuals aged between 52 and 64 years old, especially when in a state of mental fatigue.
In the second study, they assessed retired men and women aged 66- 72 years old and found that physically active participants outperformed sedentary peers in cognitive and physical tests when in states of both mental rest and fatigue.
The researchers concluded that while aging accentuates the effects of mental fatigue on cognitive and physical performance, the same effects are attenuated by habitual physical training. The findings mean that cognitive and/ or physical training may reduce the negative effects of mental fatigue on performance in older adults.
Professor Ring suggested three steps for older adults to take to improve their performance in demanding situations:
"First, people can increase their levels of regular physical activity. Second, people can warmup using a combination of cognitive and physical tasks to better prepare them for upcoming physical performance overcome, especially when feeling mentally fatigued."
"Third, people can train using a combination of cognitive and exercise tasks -- a method called Brain Endurance Training or BET -- to improve their mental fatigue resilience and enhance their physical performance," he concluded.
Sources: Science Daily, Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
