Get Moving and Protect Your Mind! Exercise Stimulates More than Just the Heart

Of course we know that exercise is essential for our physical well-being. But did you know cardiovascular exercise can also keep the brain sharp as we age?

Recent findings published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging have shown that if you stay physically active, so will your brain.

Researchers from the University of Montreal in Canada studied two groups of physically and mentally healthy participants: 31 individuals between the ages of 18-30 and 54 older adults between 55-75.

All participants underwent both physical and mental tests, while researchers measured their maximum oxygen intake over 30-second periods throughout bouts of mental exertion. For the mental test, researchers performed a Stroop effect test that scientifically validated test researchers to measure cognitive ability.

During the Stroop effect test, participants were shown the names of different colors, including red, yellow and blue. Each word printed in a color was not necessarily the color of the word, however. From there, participants were asked to shout out the color of the print and not printed word.

Lastly, participants underwent three different types of MRI scans: one measured blood flow to the brain, another measured brain activity during the Stroop task, and the third measured the stiffness of the aorta. The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body - it carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the rest of the body.

Findings revealed that age-related declines in the brain execute function and cardiorespiratory fitness, as shown in previous findings. However, the study results also revealed a strong link between vascular health, brain function and aerobic fitness.

"It enabled us to find even subtle effects in this healthy population, which suggests that other researchers could adapt our test to study vascular-cognitive associations within less healthy and clinical populations," said lead study author Dr. Claudine Gauthier of the university, via Medical News Today. 

As less than half (48 percent) of all adults meet the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines, we can only assume that means one thing: get up and get moving!