However, the amount of sleep you get may be just as important — at least when it comes to the benefits of exercise and how well your brain functions as you age.
"It shows how important it is to consider sleep and physical activity together when thinking about cognitive health," she said in a statement., a longitudinal study on people older than age 50 funded by the U.K. government and the U.S. National Institute on Aging. In addition to an initial workup, participants go through a follow-up interview and cognitive testing every two years.
The most physically active group in the study were younger and thinner at baseline, married or partnered, less likely to smoke, drink or have chronic depression or illness and had higher levels of education and wealth than the least active group. We were surprised that regular physical activity may not always be sufficient to counter the long-term effects of lack of sleep on cognitive health.In addition, physically active short sleepers in their 50s and 60s experienced more rapid cognitive decline compared with better sleepers — but only to a certain age. In people age 70 and older, the benefits of exercise on the brain was maintained, despite short sleep.
If you're sleeping less than optimally out of choice, it may be time to rethink that decision. If you, sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, seeing a sleep specialist is key, experts say. In the meantime, here are some healthy sleep habits you can try. Ban all light, including the blue light of mobile phones or laptops, which signal your body to wake up.