A new study reveals that everyday physical activities, like a short walk or playing with children, can boost brain health and potentially reverse brain aging by up to four years. The research, published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, shows that even mild daily exercise can have significant short-term benefits for mental sharpness.
The study involved 204 middle-aged participants, who underwent daily mental assessments for 9 days. During each assessment, they completed a brief survey about their mood, eating habits, and any physical activities they had engaged in over the past 3.5 hours. They also participated in short mental games to measure their cognitive performance.
Researchers discovered that participants showed improved brain analysis speed after engaging in physical activity, whether it was exercise or routine activities. The study found that while there was no significant improvement in working memory, the ability to process information quickly improved. This benefit was seen across all types of physical activity.
The research team emphasized that staying physically active, whether through structured exercise or simple daily tasks, has immediate positive effects on brain function. As we age, both physical and mental decline are common, but this study suggests that light physical activity can help maintain mental sharpness and could even protect against cognitive decline, including diseases like dementia.
However, researchers noted that while these benefits were observed in the short term, further research is needed to determine how long these positive effects last over time. The team plans to continue studying the long-term impact of daily physical activities on brain health.
This study highlights that staying active, even with small, everyday movements, can have powerful benefits for both the body and mind.