Cognitive impairment is a growing public health concern, and with increasing age being an independent risk factor, maintaining healthy brain function has never been more important for an ageing population.
We know that regular physical activity is an important preventative measure for many chronic diseases and it appears that it plays a role in maintaining cognitive function too.
In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine researchers investigated whether or not physical activity was associated with cognitive function, especially early cognitive decline.
This community-based prospective cohort study, which used data from the INVADE (Intervention Project on Cerebrovascular Diseases and Dementia in the Community of Ebersberg, Bavaria), study involved 3903 participants over the age of 55 years. Participants were enrolled in the study between 2001 and 2003 and then followed up for 2 years.
The researchers found that, compared to no physical activity, moderate or high physical activity was associated with a reduced incidence of impaired cognition after 2 years.
Physical activity was classified by the number of days per week that activities such as swimming, walking, hiking, gardening or other exercise was performed. For the purpose of the study there were 3 groups- no activity, moderate activity (physical activity less than 3 times per week) and high activity (3 or more times per week).
Just how regular exercise can help to reduce the incidence of cognitive impairment isn’t clear. Possible protective mechanisms of regular physical activity for cognitive function include a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, improved supply of oxygen to the brain and improved blood flow.
For more information on exercise and healthy ageing speak to online exercise physiologist John Felton here from the Exercise Clinic
References available upon request