Physical Activity and Cognition

Our generation is progressively being told that psychical activity is necessary. While physical activity in general should be inserted into a part of all of our daily lives, its benefits are much greater than just being healthy. Exercise promotes a wide range of benefits and as we delve further into research, the spectrum of benefits only increase. Fitness in sorts is a fountain of youth for the mind and can assist us not only now but also greatly with old age. Institutions such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AARP, and American Medical Association, recommend that adults should be involved in at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity. While this is important for general health benefits, Art Kramer from the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois, furthered studies on physical activity and its effect on the brain. Kramer began his talk at Loyola with a Poem that captures the idea of the importance of training your brain and the benefits of greater well-being that will keep your mind youthful with old age.

It’s a fortunate person whose brain

is trained early, again and again,

and who continues to use it

to be sure not to lose it,

so the brain in old age, may not wane.

Many products have been put on the market advertising their capability to improve cognitive ability.  While products results may vary, generally only relatively small improvements in cognition will be met. Only fitness has been scientifically proven to be a significant and reliable source of positive cognitive improvement. In one of the studies Kramer spoke of, physical activity was shown to predict gray matter volume in late adulthood. The more that people exercised, the bigger their brain matter was.  Even the simple act of walking has been shown to reduce risks of cognitive impartment.

The presence of exercise in life isn’t only important at a young age. Older folks who exercise tend to be better off at living longer independently outside of a nursing home. During sessions with older adults, individuals who could only manage to walk around the track set up only one time could eventually walk for about 45 minutes with out stopping. Sure enough, Kramer tells us, participants’ brain connectivity over six months improved in functional connectivity. With this, changes in white matter were correlated with individual’s aerobic fitness.

Fitness has shown to not only improve a variety of perceptual and cognitive abilities but also demonstrates increased brain volume in regions that normally show age-related decline. This includes a volume increase of the hippocampus, the part of your brain associated with formation of memories and retrieval memory. Exercise contains key assistance to better sleep and stress management as well as longer-term benefits such as prevention against neurological impairments and degeneration that comes with an aging brain.

Kramer’s take home message is that physical activity is beneficial to all ages and in a multitude of ways. Regular Exercise enhances memory, attention and decision-making and cognitive benefits are supported by increases in brain volume, blood flow and efficient functioning.

References:

Nordqvist, Joseph. "Lifelong Exercise Significantly Improves Cognitive Functioning In

Later Life." Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, 13 Mar. 2013.

Web. 10 Dec. 2013.

 "Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50-64: Community and Clinical

Partnerships." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.

 "Think Your Way Younger." 7 Years Younger. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.