Researchers said these ‘compelling’ findings show we can ‘momentarily counteract’ the effects of ageing on our brains with movement and lower the risk of dementia
There is no denying that exercise is vital for our physical health. However, new research suggests an activity as simple as walking the dog could also be hugely beneficial for our brains.
According to a study, just a few minutes of everyday physical activity daily could give your brain a significant boost. The research, conducted by a team at The Pennsylvania State University in the US, found that a few minutes of activities like walking the dog or doing household chores can improve cognitive processing speed.
Cognitive processing speed is the pace at which your brain takes in and processes information. As part of the study, which was published in the Annals of Behavioural Medicine, researchers analysed more than 200 middle-aged adults between 40 and 65.
They checked in multiple times a day on a smartphone app, reporting any physical activity they engaged in since the last check-in and then completing a series of brain games to test their cognitive abilities. Lead study author and assistant professor of neurology and psychology Jonathan Hakun explained: “You don’t have to go to the gym to experience all the potential benefits of physical activity.
“All movement is important. Everyday movement counts as a source of accumulated physical activity that could be credited toward a healthy lifestyle and may have some direct impact on cognitive health.”
Researchers discovered that on the days when trial participants carried out physical activity, regardless of whether it was light, like walking, or more intense, like jogging, they showed improvements in processing speed equivalent to being four years younger. “We get slower as we age, both physically and cognitively,” Hakun continued. “The idea here is that we can momentarily counteract that through movement.
“It’s compelling. There’s the potential for a brief walk or a little extra movement to give you a boost.”
However, the study didn’t find any improvements in working memory, which is our ability to hold and manipulate information in our minds. But Hakun said the response time on the working memory tasks mirrored the processing speed benefits, suggesting that movement may have a more immediate impact on how quickly our brains function rather than on higher-level cognitive skills.
These findings come as previous studies have linked regular exercise with a lowered risk for dementia. The Alzheimer’s Society says: “Research has shown that people who take regular exercise may be up to 20 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who don’t take regular exercise.
“It has been shown that going from being inactive to doing some amount of exercise has the biggest impact. Sustaining physical activity throughout midlife also seems to have the best effect on reducing dementia risk.”
The NHS lists the following as ways to help lower your risk of dementia:
- Eating a balanced diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Exercising regularly
- Keeping alcohol within recommended limits
- Stopping smoking
- Keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level
