As humans, we are taught early on the importance of exercising, and having a balanced diet will equip us to not only look and feel better but to live longer.
That was until a research study released by the University of Georgia uncovered how significant an active lifestyle could positively affect one’s cognitive abilities.
Marissa Gogniat, the primary author of the study that was shared earlier this year, stated in the report that having some form of exercise, no matter how big or small, “can be helpful to your brain health.”
The recent Ph. D graduate from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences said, “This finding isn’t saying, ‘If you’re older, you need to go out there and start running marathons.”
She added, “This is saying if you get more steps, if you’re moving around your environment a little bit more, that can be helpful to your brain health and keep you more independent as you age.”
This data, published in the Sport Sciences for Health, followed 51 older individuals as they tracked their physical activity and measurements.
Those involved had to complete tests that were designed to measure cognitive functioning, including MRIs. The participants also wore an unidentified device that scaled their workouts’ intensity.
The researchers then gathered the results, which stemmed from a six-minute walking test requiring the older adults to walk at an accelerated pace for a limited time.
Gogniat said following the data that exercising can impact one’s ability to “function” in daily life.
“We’ve always been told it’s good to exercise, but I think this is some evidence that exercise can actually change your brain. And that impacts the way you’re able to function in your daily life.”
This study was initially formulated to investigate how the brain’s networks would cooperate with exercise and the impact of its cognitive functions.
A human brain has countless networks that send information to one another. A brain’s network can only be operated one at a time, and if there is an imbalance, this could indicate that a person’s brain isn’t properly functioning. Networks are vital for daily tasks such as memorization and self-discipline.
One example of an efficient network is identified when an individual, who is resting, switches off the previous network and turns on another one to complete a task.
As we age, controlling the brain’s network becomes more difficult. But Gogniat said that the study has proven that exercise could ultimately change those results for the better.
“This paper is exciting because it gives us some evidence that when people whose brain networks aren’t functioning optimally engage in physical activity, we see improvement in their executive function and their independence. We’re not saying you need to radically change your life.”
Gogniat wrapped up her statement by encouraging others to make it an effort to become more physically active.
Shown down below is a 27 minute workout video you can start today in order to improve your brain’s health.
