Even moderate exercise had a beneficial impact
New research from researchers at the University of Melbourne adds to other research that exercise can improve cognitive function in adults with mild memory problems. The study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
Researchers assessed the effect exercise on 138 volunteers with mild cognitive impairment. The participants were 50 and over. The participants who did the exercise program showed improvement in cognitive function when compared to those who did not do the exercise program.
The research adds to other research that points to a natural way to help treat cognitive problems as we age. The growing epidemic of dementia related problems in a aging population adds to the importance of the study.
Mild cognitive impairment is used to describe memory problems that are not serious enough to interfere with everyday life.
The exercise program included three 50-minute walks a week of moderate physical activity for 24 weeks. Others were not asked to increase their exercise levels.
Not only did the group that exercised have better cognitive function, but the improvement persisted for about 18 months after the program.
Researcher concluded: “In this study of adults with subjective memory impairment, a 6-month program of physical activity provided a modest improvement in cognition over an 18-month follow-up period.”
So get off the couch.
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