Exercise Boosts Memory and Thinking Abilities in Older Adults, Study Says

A study presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society's annual meeting found continuous exercise positively and significantly improves brain function in older adults, reports Medical Daily . The team performed brain scans and memory tests on 34 people, average age 67, as they exercised. Initially, participants conducted a 20-minute daily cycle exercise designed to cause perspiration, and those who engaged in intense exercise could recall faces better. Magnetic resonance imaging scans also identified stronger connections between brain areas. The researchers concluded that this improvement occurred on a daily basis for those who exercise regularly. A single aerobic exercise by participants induced cellular and molecular changes in pathways modified by the training, impacting episodic and working memories that decline with age.