Exercising in middle age helps maintain memory in old age

Exercise is good for the heart, blood pressure, bones and joints, prevents obesity, diabetes and keeps the brain sharp - Photo: QUYNH HOA

Scientists have found that abnormalities in brain tissue begin to lead to cognitive decline in older adults, but they didn't think lifestyle factors could be the cause.

According to the results of a new study from the University of Melbourne, published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry , which followed 387 Australian women participating in the "Women's Healthy Ageing Project" for two decades. These women were aged 45-55.

Associate Professor Cassandra Szoeke is the project director and lead author of the study. She said the researchers were interested in understanding how lifestyle and biomedical factors such as weight, BMI and blood pressure affected memory after 20 years.

Over more than two decades, she and her team took a variety of measurements from the project participants. They noted lifestyle factors — including exercise, diet, education, marital and employment status, number of children, physical activity, and more.

And they measured hormone levels, cholesterol, height, weight, body mass index, and blood pressure at 11 points throughout the study. The women were asked to take a verbal episodic memory test.

When memory was measured over 20 years, people who were physically active, had normal blood pressure, and had high levels of good cholesterol all had better memory recall. Szoeke said that once dementia sets in, it can slowly lead to permanent memory loss.

So exercising more each week is linked to memory retention. Research shows that brain changes associated with dementia take 20 to 30 years to develop.

The results showed that regular exercise in any form, from the simplest and gentlest movements such as walking the dog, swimming to jogging, playing badminton or climbing, was considered the number one factor against dementia.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tap-the-duc-o-tuoi-trung-nien-giup-duy-tri-tri-nho-khi-lon-tuoi-20240924004006887.htm