Any physical activity improves brain function later in life, study says

WHIO Staff
·1 min read

The link between physical activity and health is well established, but new research shows it’s never too late to get active.

Any exercise, even as little as once a month, can help preserve mental function and memory, according to CBS.

A major study in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry showed a link between exercise and lower risks of dementia and cognitive decline.

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The study tracked the physical activity patterns of nearly 1,500 people over the course of 30 years in adulthood. At age 69, the participants were tested on their cognitive state, verbal memory and processing speed.

Even people who became active in their 50s or 60s achieved better cognitive scores when they reached 70 years old, according to study author Dr. Sarah-Naomi James, a research fellow at MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at University College London.

While even a little exercise can help, people who exercised regularly throughout adulthood saw the most benefit.