A RECENT COLUMBIA University study builds on previous research linking
aerobic exercise to cognitive function and cortical thickness improvement
in middle-aged and older adults. Here's a look at what the findings
could mean for you.
Can you imagine living through chronic neurological disease and dysfunction
that prevents you from learning, reasoning, behaving appropriately or
even remembering basic information? These are examples of cognitive functions,
which are the sophisticated mental processes by which we're able to
carry out daily tasks and navigate the world around us. The way we learn
things, how we remember them, problem-solving and paying attention to
details can deteriorate with
mild cognitive impairment and can be destroyed with more aggressive forms of dementia. Our cognitive
abilities can also decline with age.
A bevy of prior research has shown that some age-related declines in cognitive
function can be both normal and common. Though
dementia and
Alzheimer's disease are also associated with age-related cognitive declines, these conditions
are not considered normal and are actually disease-related cognitive impairments.
Rather, normal age-related declines in cognition may include reductions
in mental processing speed, or "nuisance" memory complaints
– like "Where did I put my keys?" or "What was the
name of that movie we saw last month?"
Research also indicates that no matter your age, well-developed cognitive
skills aren't necessarily the same thing as intelligence. In fact,
neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that intellectual ability or general
intelligence are positively connected to how well-developed specific structures
of the brain are – including the thickness of the cerebral cortex,
also referred to as cortical thickness. As you likely guessed, the cerebral
cortex thins out as we get older.
So, if cognitive function and cortical thickness decline as we age, is
there anything we can actually do to prevent it from happening? Is there
a "fountain of youth" for the brain? As the study from Columbia
highlights, yes, there is something significant we can do at any age to
both enhance and improve cognitive function and cortical thickness, plus
help stave off age-related brain changes. And it's
aerobic exercise.
Surprised? Brain anatomy and function lessons aside, I bet if you're
like most people, you probably think that becoming better at mental processing
or enhancing your intellectual capabilities has to do with the information
you feed your brain. High-level reading material, brain-teaser quizzes,
things like these, right? While engaging in such activities is great,
what the Columbia researchers actually found was that the older the person
was who participated in aerobic exercise, the more pronounced the positive
effect was on his or her cognitive function and cortical thickness. And
furthermore, they found that these benefits were actualized in middle-aged
individuals, as well. Another fascinating aspect of the study was the
fact that the researchers did not select people who were considered to
be "regular exercisers." Rather, they wanted to test their hypotheses
on people considered to have a "below average" level of cardiovascular
fitness. That's even more encouraging news for people who've been
sedentary for the majority of their lives. The research is continuing
to prove that it's never too late to benefit from heart-pumping exercise.
One of the complicating factors I encounter on a daily basis is the impact
pain can have on an individual who is willing to and desirous of exercise,
but unable to do so because of degenerative arthritis or some
musculoskeletal injury. As a
pain medicine specialist, my daily medical practice involves efforts to reduce and eliminate pain
– to improve quality of life and overall function. But as a neurologist,
I'm acutely aware of how important pain management is for its ability
to preserve my patients' ability to exercise – and the associated
benefits of that exercise to the brain.
[SEE:
Easy Ways to Protect Your Aging Brain. ]
In a society where exercise is most frequently seen as essential to our
external physique and body image, studies like these help highlight the
truth: Exercise is even more important for the processes that are happening
on the inside of the body, including those in the brain. So ditch the
excuses. You're not too old. You're not too sedentary. Talk to
your doctor and start out with a manageable and fun aerobic exercise routine
so you can stay safe as well as motivated. Stick with it and enjoy the
body and brain rewards for a lifetime.