Physical fitness directly affects brain function, especially in old age. Researchers from the University of Illinois have uncovered the direct effects of cardiorespiratory fitness on the executive brain function of older adults.
A team from the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois looked into the brains of 128 adults aged 59 to 80 years old. Using functional Magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans, the study found increased brain activity in individuals with better cardiorespiratory health while doing dual or multiple tasks.
The brain's executive function refers to a set of mental skills that enable you to get things done. These mental skills include time management, problem solving, and reasoning.
The improved executive function may be due to the activities in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and supplementary motor area (SMA). The ACC is involved in evaluating motivational content, maternal-infant interactions, and trained emotional learning. The SMA, on the other hand, is responsible for coordinating hand movements and other complex actions.
"We analyzed areas of the brain that were activated while the participants were completing two tasks, and found that the ACC/SMA activation was associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness," said Chelsea Wong, the study's first author and a doctoral student at the University of Illinois. The brain's executive function declines as people age. The study reveals that working on cardiorespiratory fitness can help improve brain performance.
Cardiorespiratory fitness focuses on stamina and endurance. The best way to improve it is to enhance the body's oxygen consumption with physical activities such as aerobic dance classes and Zumba. Swimming, jogging, and bicycling also increase stamina when done regularly and may result in long-term benefits.
Professor Art Kramer from the University of Illinois, a specialist in psychology and neuroscience, stresses that the research helps people better understand the relationship between physical fitness, cognition, and brain function. He adds that by switching to a healthy lifestyle, people can keep their brain healthy even in old age.
The study successfully looked into the link between three major players: cardiorespiratory fitness, brain activation, and behavioral performance. The study is published in the Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience and was supported by the National Institute on Aging.
