How Does Aerobics Improve Your Cognitive Function?

Aerobic exercise, often seen as a cornerstone of exercise routines around the world has been shown to hold major benefits for brain health and improve cognitive functioning in people of all ages.

This type of exercise is characterised by rhythmic, moderate-speed movements that raise the heart rate and are associated with problem-solving skills and executive functions such as thinking, planning and organising.

Researchers from Columbia University held a study that involved 132 adults between the ages of 20 and 67. The participants, who initially had below-average aerobic capacity, were divided into two groups.

What Did The Study Find?

One group performed aerobic exercises and the other group performed stretching and core strengthening exercises. executive functions of participants; processing speed; Language attention and episodic memory were tested before the start of the study and again at 12 and 24 weeks.

The results showed a significant improvement in executive function in the aerobic group. Interestingly, the older the participant, the better. It has been suggested that aerobic exercise may mitigate age-related cognitive decline. executive function - financial management; It is important to perform complex tasks such as making health decisions and responding appropriately to emergency situations.

Brain images taken 24 weeks after the start of the program showed that aerobic exercise was associated with increased cortical thickness in an area of the left medial prefrontal cortex associated with executive function.

The Gray Matter Region Increases

Researchers have observed an increase in gray matter in the brain associated with various skills and abilities. These changes were independent of the age of the participants; Aerobic exercise benefits brain health in all age groups. However, aerobic exercise speed, attention, research has found that it does not improve language and memory. Other studies have shown that it can improve these factors in people over the age of 55. The study’s author Jacob Stern, PhD, suggests that larger research could investigate whether aerobic exercise improves these markers in young adults.

Although more research is needed to determine the optimal "dose" of exercise to improve cognition, it is clear that aerobic exercise is beneficial for cognitive maintenance in all age groups. So why not try incorporating aerobic exercise into your daily routine for a simple and effective way to improve brain health!