Keep Your Body Fit: Your Brain Will Thank You Later

Keeping the body physically fit into your 40s could potentially help keep the brain mentally fit into your 60s.

A new study shows that staying physically active helps retain brain volume two decades later and also preform better on decision-making tests.

Researchers examined an analysis of more than 1,200 participants who were tracked for more than 20 years.

Findings revealed that those with lower fitness levels had smaller brain masses later in their 60s when compared to counterparts who were more physically active and fit.

About 1,270 participants were involved in the study. In the 60s, they were required to undergo MRI brain scans and mental performance tests. Then, in the 1970s, when their average age was 41, they had to undergo treadmill testing exercises.

Those who had more difficulties exercising, along with an increase in heart rate or diastolic blood pressure just after a few minutes of low-intensity exercise, typically had smaller brain volumes than healthier counterparts. They also performed worse on cognition decision-making tests in their 60s.

Similarly, those with larger increases in blood pressure levels during low-intensity exercise performed worse on a mental ("cognition") test of decision-making ability in their 60s, the study found.

"In elderly individuals, improvements in fitness have been shown to prevent brain aging over the short-term," said study author Nicole Spartano, a postdoctoral fellow at Boston University School of Medicine, in a news release."But it has not been clear whether fitness throughout adulthood has an impact on brain aging. In particular, it has not been clear how longstanding (or short-lived) an impact midlife fitness might have on late-life cognition."

Of course, researchers also noted that certain factors, including genetic predispositions to certain illnesses, dietary habits and other lifestyle choices, may all contribute to brain volume size over time. Only more research will tell.

More information regarding the findings were presented March 4 at the American Heart Association meeting in Baltimore.

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