Exercise is well emphasised in people of all ages, along with diet and lifestyle management to keep fit. Regular physical activity improves strength and immunity and increases the mobility of the joints in the elderly. A new
study published in the Journal of the Neuropsychological Society has observed that regular exercise for at least 30 minutes a day may improve memory in older people. The study was conducted on 26 older adults of age 55-85 years in the U.S. The participants were asked to pedal for 30 minutes at moderate intensity on a stationary bike or simply rest before performing a memory test. During the memory test, they were asked to identify names of people in the displayed photos and their brains were scanned. The region of the brain associated with memory and cognition was found better activated after exercise than the resting state. The study has observed that regular exercise may strengthen memory centre of the brain in the long term.
Source: Journal of the Neuropsychological Society, 2025
