Exercise Today, Sharper Memory Tomorrow
Want a Sharper Mind Tomorrow? Get Moving today!
New research suggests that exercise can boost your memory for up to a full day after your workout.
SUNDAY, Dec. 15, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Looking for a way to give your brain a boost for tomorrow? Lace up your sneakers and get moving today, a new study suggests.
Researchers discovered that middle-aged adults and seniors perform better on memory tests a full day after engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity.
“Moderate or vigorous activity means anything that gets your heart rate up – this coudl be brisk walking, dancing, or walking up a few flights of stairs. It doesn’t have to be structured exercise,” said lead researcher Mikaela Bloomberg, a senior research fellow in social epidemiology with the University college London’s Institute of Epidemiology & Health care.
“Our findings suggest that the short-term memory benefits of physical activity may last longer than previously thought, possibly to the next day instead of just the few hours after exercise,” Bloomberg said.
Beyond Exercise: Sleep and Sedentary Time Matter Too
The study also found that people ages 50 to 84 did better on memory tests if they spent less time sitting the day before or got six or more hours of sleep.
How Does exercise Benefit the Brain?
Exercise is known to provide a short-term brain boost by increasing blood flow to the brain and stimulating the release of neurochemicals that support cognitive function.These brain chemical changes typically last for a few hours after exercise.
However, researchers suspect the benefits may last even longer because other brain states linked to exercise, such as improved mood, can persist for up to 24 hours.
The Study: Tracking Activity and Memory
For the new study, 76 participants wore wristband activity trackers for eight days to monitor their sedentary time and physical activity levels.The trackers also monitored their sleep patterns.
Researchers also had participants take cognitive tests each day to see how their activities the day before might have affected their brainpower.
The results showed that more moderate or vigorous physical activity appeared to improve both short-term working memory and longer-term episodic memory the next day.
More sleep was also linked to better working and episodic memory,and also faster psychomotor speed – a measure of how quickly a person detects and responds to their habitat.
On the other hand, more time spent sitting meant worse working memory the next day.What This Means For You
Want to be sharp tomorrow? Try to get your heart rate up today. Even a brisk walk or some dancing can make a difference. And don’t forget to prioritize a good night’s sleep!
The findings were published Dec. 10 in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
Want a Sharper Mind Tomorrow? Get Moving Today!
New research suggests that exercise can boost your memory for up to a full day after your workout.
New study finds that physical activity, sleep, and sedentary time can all influence cognitive performance the following day.
SUNDAY, Dec. 15, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Looking for a way to improve your memory for tomorrow? A new study suggests that getting active today could be the answer.
Researchers discovered that middle-aged adults and seniors scored higher on memory tests a full day after engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity.
“Moderate or vigorous activity means anything that gets your heart rate up – this could be brisk walking, dancing, or walking up a few flights of stairs. It doesn’t have to be structured exercise,” said lead researcher Mikaela Bloomberg, a senior research fellow in social epidemiology with the University College London’s institute of Epidemiology & Health care.
“Our findings suggest that the short-term memory benefits of physical activity may last longer than previously thought, possibly to the next day instead of just the few hours after exercise,” Bloomberg said.
The study also found that participants ages 50 to 84 performed better on memory tests if thay spent less time sitting the day before or got six or more hours of sleep.
This research builds on existing knowledge about the short-term brain benefits of exercise, which include increased blood flow to the brain and the release of cognitive-boosting neurochemicals.
Researchers suspect that the long-lasting effects may be due to other brain states associated with exercise, such as improved mood, which can persist for up to 24 hours.
For the study, 76 participants wore wristband activity trackers for eight days to monitor their sedentary time, physical activity levels, and sleep patterns.
They also took cognitive tests each day to assess how their activities the day before might have affected their brainpower.
The results showed a connection between increased moderate to vigorous physical activity and improvements in both short-term working memory and longer-term episodic memory the following day.
More sleep was also linked to better working and episodic memory,and also faster psychomotor speed,which measures how quickly a person can detect and react to stimuli.
Conversely, more sedentary time was linked to worse working memory the next day.
The findings were published Dec. 10 in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.