A recent study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity explored the cognitive benefits of physical activity in older adults, aged 50 to 83. Researchers found that participants who engaged in more moderate to vigorous physical activity than usual performed better on memory tests the following day. Less time spent sitting and more sleep (particularly deep, slow-wave sleep) also contributed to improved cognitive performance.
The study, which tracked 76 men and women using activity trackers over eight days, revealed that short-term cognitive benefits from exercise may last longer than previously thought, potentially extending to the next day. Exercise is believed to increase brain blood flow and stimulate neurotransmitters that enhance cognitive functions, while more sleep and less sedentary time were associated with improved working memory, episodic memory, and psychomotor speed. However, the researchers caution that this was a small study involving cognitively healthy participants, and further research with a larger sample is needed to confirm these findings definitively.