According to the New York Times (4/10, Reynolds) “Well” blog, research recently published in the Journal of Aging Research suggests that “regular exercise can substantially improve memory, although different types of exercise seem to affect the brain quite differently.” In a small study of 86 elderly women between the ages of 70 and 80 who had mild cognitive impairment who were randomized to weight training, brisk walking, or simple stretching and toning exercises and then were evaluated six months later, researchers found that “women who had exercised, either by walking or weight training, performed better on almost all of the cognitive tests after six months than they had before.” Interestingly, “while both exercise groups improved almost equally on tests of spatial memory, the women who had walked showed greater gains in verbal memory than the women who had lifted weights.” Women who stretched and performed toning exercises scored worse on memory tests.
Related Links:
— “Getting a Brain Boost Through Exercise, “Gretchen Reynolds, The New York Times, April 10, 2013.