Aerobic exercise 'stimulates heart and mind'
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Posted on Apr 21, 2008, 8 p.m.
By Jeanelle Topping
Research findings from the Netherlands indicate that aerobic exercise can help boost cognitive performance in adults over the age of 55.
Research findings from the Netherlands indicate that aerobic exercise can help boost cognitive performance in adults over the age of 55.
A review of studies conducted at the University of Applied Sciences in Utrecht found that aerobic exercise may have a positive effect on the brain power of older people.
Lead review author Maaike Angevaren stated: "Aerobic physical exercises that improve cardiovascular fitness also help boost cognitive processing speed, motor function and visual and auditory attention in healthy older people."
Results show that improved cardio-respiratory fitness can be associated with improvements in cognitive function, when compared to a group of non-active adults.
"Improvements in cognition as a result of improvements in cardiovascular fitness are being explained by improvements in cerebral blood flow, leading to increased brain metabolism which, in turn, stimulates the production of neurotransmitters and formation of new synapses," Dr Angevaren explained.
"At the same time, improved cardiovascular fitness could lead to a decline in cardiovascular disease [which is] proven to negatively affect cognition."
