summary: Recent studies show that regular light exercise may improve cognitive function in older adults. The study found that low-intensity cycling three times a week for three months significantly improved executive function in older adults, especially those aged 68 to 78.
These cognitive enhancements were associated with increased efficiency in the prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain that controls executive function. This finding may have implications for designing exercise programs tailored to older adults with low fitness levels or limited motivation to exercise.
Important facts:
- This study found that low-intensity cycling three times a week for three months significantly improved executive function in older adults.
- The benefits of light exercise were particularly pronounced among older adults aged 68 to 78 years.
- Improved cognitive function was associated with increased efficiency in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that controls executive function.
sauce: University of Tsukuba
Regular exercise helps maintain and promote cognitive function in older people.
While previous studies have focused on the effects of moderate-to-high-intensity aerobic exercise programs lasting 6 months to 1 year on executive function controlled by the prefrontal cortex, the challenge lies in motivating individuals to participate in and adhere to a rigorous exercise routine.
Based on previous research conducted by researchers at the University of Tsukuba and the University of California, Irvine, it has been observed that even brief bouts of light exercise, such as walking or yoga, can stimulate the brain and lead to temporary improvements in cognitive performance.
However, until now, the effects of long-term mild aerobic exercise on human brain function and the underlying mechanisms involved have remained unclear.
In this study, a group of healthy middle-aged and older adults (ages 55-78) were randomly divided into two groups. One group did low-intensity cycling three times a week for three months (exercise group), while the other group continued with their usual daily routine (control group).
The research team used the Stroop test to assess participants’ executive function, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy to assess prefrontal cortex activity during the task before and after the intervention.
The survey results were published in a magazine Gero Science, revealed that the exercise group showed significant improvement in executive function compared with the control group. Of note, when the data were analyzed by age, the benefits of light-intensity exercise were particularly pronounced in the older age group (ages 68-78).
The underlying brain mechanisms behind this improvement included increased efficient activation of the prefrontal cortex. In other words, executive function was high, but the corresponding brain activation was relatively low.
These results suggest that even 3 months of light exercise strengthens the brain’s functional networks, allowing the prefrontal cortex to be utilized more efficiently during the Stroop test.
This finding highlights that 3 months of light, stress-free exercise has a positive effect on strengthening the prefrontal cortex and improving cognitive function in older adults.
The results of this study are expected to contribute to the development of new exercise programs and strategies that improve executive function and are easily accessible to older adults with low physical fitness levels and limited motivation to exercise.
About this exercise, cognition and aging research news
author: Byun Kyung Ho
sauce: University of Tsukuba
contact: Kyung Ho Byun – University of Tsukuba
image: Image credited to Neuroscience News
Original research: open access.
“Light exercise increases prefrontal neural efficiency and improves executive function in older adults]Byun Kyung-ho et al. Gero Science
overview
Light exercise increases prefrontal neural efficiency and improves executive function in older adults
This study investigated whether a 3-month mild exercise intervention could improve executive function in healthy middle-aged and older adults in a randomized controlled trial. Ultimately, a total of 81 middle-aged and older adults were randomly assigned to exercise or control groups.
The exercise group received a 3-month mild cycle exercise intervention (3 sessions per week, 30-50 minutes per session). The control group was asked to behave normally during the intervention period. Before and after the intervention, participants performed a color-word matching Stroop task (CWST), and reaction time (RT) associated with Stroop interference (SI) was assessed as an index of executive function.
During the CWST, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to monitor prefrontal cortex activation. To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying exercise intervention, SI-related oxy-Hb changes and SI-related neural efficiency (NE) scores were assessed. Mild exercise intervention significantly reduced SI-related RT, but there was no significant effect of exercise intervention on SI-related oxyHb changes in prefrontal subregions or SI-related NE score.
Finally, we examined changes in the effect of mild exercise on NE with aging. The 81 participants were divided into his two subgroups (youth subgroups). [YA]the elderly subgroup [OA]based on median age [68 years.]). Interestingly, SI-related RT in all ROIs in the prefrontal cortex was significantly decreased and his SI-related NE score was significantly increased only in the OA subgroup.
These results reveal that long-term interventions of very light-intensity exercise have positive effects on executive functioning, especially in older adults, possibly by enhancing neural efficiency in the prefrontal cortex.
