Mild exercise for three months linked to improved brain efficiency

Regular exercise has been known to aid in maintaining and promoting cognitive function in older adults, but new research has shown that even brief sessions of mild exercise — such as walking and yoga — can stimulate the brain and yield temporary improvements in cognitive function.

The research builds upon prior investigations conducted by investigators at the University of Tsukuba and the University of California, Irvine.

For this study the researchers randomly divided a group of healthy middle-aged and older adults (aged 55–78) into two groups: one performed low-intensity bicycle exercise three times a week for three months (exercise group), while the other group continued their normal daily routine (control group). The participants’ executive function was evaluated using a Stroop test with the prefrontal cortex activity assessed during the task with the help of functional near-infrared spectroscopy before and after the intervention.

The findings revealed that the exercise group exhibited significant improvement in executive function compared to the control group. When analysing the data by age, the benefits of mild exercise were particularly pronounced in the older adult group (aged 68–78). The underlying brain mechanism behind this improvement involved an increase in the efficient activation of the prefrontal cortex, according to the research team. In other words, executive function was high while corresponding brain activation was relatively low. These results suggest that even three months of mild exercise can strengthen the brain’s functional networks, enabling the prefrontal cortex to be used more efficiently during the Stroop test.

The discovery highlights the positive impact of stress-free mild exercise over a three-month period in strengthening the prefrontal cortex and enhancing cognitive function among older adults, according to the researchers. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of new exercise programs and strategies that improve executive function and are easily accessible for older individuals with low physical fitness levels and limited motivation to exercise.

Image credit: iStockphoto.com/SilviaJansen