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Replacing time spent on the couch with less than 10 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity may have a positive impact on cognitive function in middle-aged people, according to a new study released Monday. of physical activity that can be done every day.
Just a few minutes of vigorous or moderate physical activity can improve cognitive performance. … [+]
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Researchers assessed the daily physical activity of more than 4,400 people aged 46 to 47 in the UK between 2016 and 2018, having participants wear trackers that monitored their activity levels for up to seven days. I got it, and then I did a memory test. Executive functions including word processing.
According to a study published in , participants’ cognitive skill scores decreased by 1% to 2% when 8 minutes of vigorous physical activity was replaced with a sedentary behavior, such as sitting on the couch. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
If participants replaced strenuous activity with a similar amount of light-intensity activity or sleep duration, scores also decreased, and if 7 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were replaced with light-intensity activity, scores decreased. It dropped by about 1.3%, and about 1.2% when light intensity activity was substituted instead. time of sleeping.
Participants’ cognitive scores, on the other hand, improved by 1.3% when just 9 minutes of sedentary activity was replaced with brisk physical activity.
Over a 24-hour period, participants recorded an average of 51 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity, plus approximately 6 hours of light activity, 9 hours of sedentary activity, and 8 hours of sleep. bottom.
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Researchers have also linked activity levels in children and older adults to improved cognitive and behavioral function and long-term physical fitness.One study published last July Journal of the American Medical Associationfound a link between reduced muscle mass and cognitive decline in adults aged 65-86. understood. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week, higher levels of physical activity only improve problem-solving and memory. It can help reduce anxiety and depression.
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Researchers also found that some sedentary behaviors, including reading and working, can positively affect cognitive stimulation, as opposed to watching television. Participants who substituted sedentary behavior scored higher on cognitive tests, but only if their sedentary time was at least 37 minutes longer than the time spent in light-intensity activity.
References
How ‘dormant’ cells in the aging brain contribute to cognitive decline (Forbes)
Study suggests loss of muscle mass is linked to precipitous decline in cognitive function (Forbes)
Expert Tips to Stop Cognitive Decline (Forbes)