Older people who do aerobic exercise and weight training are better able to maintain brain health than sedentary people of the same age, according to a study conducted by psychologists at the University of Florida in the United States.
Published on Giro Science MagazineResearch shows that the benefits of physical activity for cognition are agility in thinking and the ability to change or adapt thinking.
“Our findings not only provide hope for healthy aging, but also offer a practical approach to maintaining or even improving cognitive health in the final decades of life,” researchers Brian Hu and Ronald Cohen, authors of the work, say in a journal article. Conversation magazine.
Active older people have healthier brains
The study was conducted by assessing the cognitive function of 184 healthy older adults, aged 85 to 99 years. They underwent a battery of cognitive tests and detailed their physical activity habits. About 70% of the participants had already done some physical exercise before the research.
Older adults who did exercise such as swimming, cycling or strength activities showed better cognitive performance. The results were positive regardless of the intensity or duration of the exercises.
The volunteers who combined cardiovascular and strength training performed better on specific cognitive activities, such as encoding symbols, which demonstrated a better understanding of situations and positioning themselves in relation to them.
“The results are not just numbers. These skills represent real-life thinking skills that can impact the quality of life of those entering the golden age,” the study authors concluded.
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