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Exercise, Physical Activity, and Brain Fitness

April 23, 2008 Brain Fitness, Cognitive abilities, Cognitive Training, Diet, Living Longer and Better, Physical fitness 2 Comments

No matter what you believe about computer-based cognitive training and what it can do for you (see previous post), it’s pretty clear that computer training isn’t the only answer to the question of how to keep your brain fit as you get older. Exercise and physical activity are pretty clearly related to cognitive function in people over 50. There are even some prospective studies that show that increasing physical activity can improve your mental abilities.

A recent update to a systematic review in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews once again confirms this (Angevaren, M., et al., Physical activity and enhanced fitness to improve cognitive function in older people. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1, 2008). Animal studies have shown that exercise has multiple physical effects on basic biological processes that can improve memory and cognition. Improved aerobic fitness (being able to do things like walking, running, or swimming) increases blood flow to the brain as well as the body’s ability to get oxygen from the blood. Exercise also activates substances called growth factors in the body. These factors causes cells to grow, and may increase the number of blood vessels in the brain. Human research shows that similar mechanisms may be at work in older adults.

Several meta-analyses (special studies that look at the results of multiple studies all at once) have shown a relation of physical activity of mental abilities including memory. Although many of these studies are correlational (this means that they show us which factor causes the improvement), there are also some prospective studies of exercise in older adults. These have shown that people who improve their physical fitness also improve their mental fitness. Brain fitness is more than computer-based training.

Currently there are "2 comments" on this Article:

  1. Gary D says:
    October 23, 2008 at 11:56 pm

    Tis true, physical exercise improves our brain function. But this does not mean mental exercise is of no use. Better, combine both into a holistic approach. Have you seen the nuns video? They combined both mental and physical exercise and they live long. Also, you don’t need a computer to exercise your brain.. Simple checker, chess, sudoku, etc can challenge your brain. Better, it has been shown that regular and *varied* mental stimulation is the key to brain fitness.

  2. admin says:
    October 27, 2008 at 5:27 am

    Hi Gary –

    Thanks for your comment. My post had more to do with the importance of doing just what you suggest — a combination of activities. I agree that you don’t need a computer be mentally fit, although I think computer programs can make things simpler. Thanks again –

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