With
the health level of United States’ citizens declining, it is important to
promote exercise for the health benefits.
Many individuals are aware of the physical benefits that result from
exercise, but throughout the lifespan, mental benefits can also occur 1.
Roig, Skriver, Lundbye-Jensen, Kiens, and Nielsen
explain, “regular aerobic exercise, in particular, produces moderate yet robust
improvements in the performance of some cognitive tasks, especially in those
involving attention, processing speed, and executive function”2.
While it is better for individuals to begin exercising during childhood, the
cognitive benefits can occur later in life, even benefiting the elderly population.
Neuroimaging on human subjects has shown that exercise can improve brain function1.
Hillman,
Erickson, and Kramer state that ”lifestyle factors” which can benefit elderly
adults are “intellectual engagement, social interaction, diet and physical
activity—[and these] are associated with the maintenance of cognitive function
and reduction in risk for age-associated neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and
vascular dementia”1. Exercise is an important part of overall
health, including healthy brain function. Physical activity supports cognition
and this phenomenon is supported through research “at the molecular, cellular,
behavioral and systems levels”1. Engaging in an exercise program
will not only help with physical strength, but exercise can restore cognition
and improve neural function1. It is never too late to begin exercise
to help brain function, but the sooner one starts, the better the results will
be.
1Hillman, C. H., Erickson, K. I., & Kramer, A. F.
(2008). Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition.
Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9(1), 58-65. doi:10.1038/nrn2298
2Roig, M., Skriver, K.,
Lundbye-Jensen, J., Kiens, B., & Nielsen, J. (2012). A Single Bout of
Exercise Improves Motor Memory. Plos ONE, 7(9), 1-8.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044594
I work at a facility where we have group exercise classes that are designed for the elderly population and they are full every day. On average we have over 45 seniors in each class, most days some leave because the class is too full. And its an odd observation, but the elderly that regularly take the class have better motor control, higher cognitive function and better posture. But those that do not, or those that are "starting" their membership are much further behind, many have walkers or cant stand on their own for very long, they are unable to hold a conversation, and their posture is debilitating.
ReplyDelete