Brain Endurance Training (BET) Boosts Health in Older Adults
Brain Endurance Training (BET) combines cognitive and physical exercises to improve performance in older adults. Developed for athletes, BET enhances mental and physical capabilities.
A study from researchers at the Universities of Birmingham and Extremadura shows that BET improves attention and executive function, as well as physical endurance and resistance training. This research targets healthy aging. Previous studies indicate that mental fatigue can lower both cognitive and physical performance, increasing fall risks.
Professor Chris Ring states that BET can effectively enhance cognitive and physical performance in older adults, even when fatigued. This training could significantly reduce the risk of falls and accidents.
Study Details
The study involved 24 healthy, sedentary women aged 65-78. Participants were divided into three groups: BET, exercise-only, and a control group. The BET and exercise groups completed three 45-minute sessions per week for eight weeks. Each session included 20 minutes of resistance training and 25 minutes of endurance training. The BET group also engaged in a 20-minute cognitive task before the workouts.
Participants completed cognitive tests, like reaction time and color-matching, and physical tests, such as walking and chair stands, at the study’s start and finish. The BET group showed a 7.8% improvement in cognitive performance, compared to 4.5% in the exercise-only group. The BET group had a 29.9% increase in physical performance, while the exercise group improved by 22.4%.
Professor Ring emphasizes that BET counters mental fatigue and enhances performance in older adults. Future research will include larger sample sizes and both genders. These promising findings support encouraging older adults to participate in BET for better brain and body activities.
Reference
The study is titled “Brain endurance training improves sedentary older adults’ cognitive and physical performance when fresh and fatigued” by Jesús Díaz-García, Tomás García-Calvo, and Christopher Ring, published on October 2, 2024, in Psychology of Sport and Exercise. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102757
