Exercise may improve brain health in older adults

Studies indicate exercise may help improve the the links in the nervous system between separate brain areas, improving brain health.Current research suggests that exercise can improve brain health, even as we age. Aging causes neurodegeneration, in which cells in the central nervous system die, resulting in a decline in mental abilities. But why this happens is not known.

To find out, researchers evaluated the effect of exercise, with and without other care measures, on the links in the nervous system among separate brain areas — referred to as functional brain network connectivity . FBNC enables people to carry out cognitive functions, to process information and can indicate a change in the brain long before memory loss is evident.

The study looked at research articles published to date on older adults who were either cognitively healthy or impaired. The researchers evaluated the impact of exercise on physical and cognitive function, and reviewed the relationship between FBNC and physical and cognitive function in these older adults.A literature search yielded 13 relevant studies.

Five of those articles focused on studies of older adults with cognitive problems, including 203 participants ranging in age from approximately 64 to 75 years, with 5 to 22 participants per group. Aerobic exercise was the most common activity used in the studies, with durations ranging from six weeks to one year and including 60 to 300 minutes of exercise per week.FBNC increased in 10 out of 12 of the study groups, which may indicate improved brain function.

Nick Bray is with the Department of Kinesiology at Western University, London, Ontario. This article summarizes the systematic review Bray NW, Pieruccini-Faria F, Bartha R, Doherty TJ, Nagamatsu LS, Montero-Odasso M. The effect of physical exercise on functional brain network connectivity in older adults with and without cognitive impairment. A systematic review..

Health Health Latest News, Health Health Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Exercise may improve brain health in older adultsCurrent research suggests that exercise can improve brain health, even as we age - via healthing_ca healthing health Canada exercise
Source: VancouverSun - 🏆 49. / 61 Read more »

Prunes may have another health benefit: reducing the risk of osteoporosisPrunes might be a promising nutritional intervention to prevent the inflammation that comes with aging - via healthing_ca healthing health Canada research
Source: nationalpost - 🏆 10. / 80 Read more »