Health x Wellness
Cardio Workouts Help Your Brain Work Better
Recent scientific research suggests that the more you exercise when you are young, the better your brain will work when you are older.
A recent study published in Academy of Neurology found that young adults with higher cardiovascular fitness levels performed better on cognitive tests 25 years later compared to those who were less fit while a new Neurobiology of Aging study was the first to use MRI tests to get measurements of artery health and cognition, proving the correlation between artery health and cognition.
The research conducted by the University of Montreal first tested the fitness of 31 young adults and 54 older adults, by making them complete cardio workouts till exhaustion. This was followed by an MRI scan on the participants’ brains within the next month as the participants performed a cognitive exam called the Stroop test (say the ink color of a word printed in a different colour along with other mental tasks) in addition to examining the arteries of the participants’ brains.
The results of the study indicated that not only did the older adults have slower times on the Stroop test as compared to the younger participants, but there was also a segregation within the group of older participants, as those who registered slower timings had stiffer arteries and poorer cardiovascular fitness (VO2max). Overall, the older group had lower VO2max compared to the younger group.
In short, a decline in vascular health as we age does lead to cognitive decline and cardiovascular exercise is a way to mediate these vascular changes and mitigate cognitive health deterioration. Time to lace up your shoes and start jogging, because cardio does help make your brain younger.
