One of the things that happens when we get older is that our memory diminishes and where it first manifests itself is in the difficulty to remember events and past personal experiences, that is, a reduction in episodic memory. Now, a review of studies has found that engaging in aerobic exercise may help slow this natural process.
The research, which has been published in the journal Communications Medicine, analyzed 1,279 studies of which 36 met the specific criteria they were looking for: a relationship between memory and aerobic exercise in older adults. The study was carried out by psychologists from the University of Pittsburgh (USA) and was made possible thanks to specialized software that allowed all the data to be organized and put together to draw conclusions.
The objective of the authors of the study was to answer the questions that practically everyone asks about exercise, and that is that we all know that it is beneficial for physical and mental health, but we have doubts about how much to do, when should be practiced, or the most recommended type of activity.
An easy way to avoid memory decline
“According to our study, it seems that exercising about three times a week for at least four months is what is needed to obtain the benefits in episodic memory”, explained Sarah Aghjayan, principal investigator of the work. The type of exercise that was analyzed was aerobic, since it is known that it is the one that most activates the heart and the one that has the greatest benefits for brain health.
“Exercising about three times a week for at least four months is what is needed to obtain benefits in episodic memory”
Using data from nearly 3,000 study participants, they were able to see that the greatest improvements in memory occurred in people ages 55 to 68, compared to those ages 69 to 85. This indicates that early intervention in combating memory loss brings greater benefits, so it is best to start exercising at an early age.
The most notable benefits were also seen in participants who had not yet shown any symptoms of cognitive decline, as well as those who spent several days a week exercising. It is noteworthy that with the separate studies it was not possible to demonstrate the link between exercise and episodic memory, but with the set of 36 it was possible.
However, this analysis could not answer how exercise intensity affects memory benefits, and much more research is needed to unravel this link. Even so, the public health implications of this relationship are clear, Aghjayan explains, since exercise seems to be an accessible way for older adults to avoid memory deterioration, benefiting themselves, their caregivers and the system of medical care.
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