Study: Exercise Keeps the Brain Young

Statistics show that the average person’s brain shrinks by roughly 5% every decade after the age of 40. This means the brain of a 60-year-old is about 10% smaller than that of a 40-year-old. While there’s no way to turn back the hands of time, you may be able to slow the rate at which your brain shrinks by exercising.

A new study conducted by researchers from the National Institute of Complementary Medicine in Australia and the Division of Psychology and Mental Health at the University of Manchester in the UK found that aerobic exercise protects the brain from age-related shrinkage.

For the study, researchers from the respective universities analyzed more than a dozen existing studies involving brain scans. Participants in the study ranged in ages from 24 to 76 with a median age of 66. Some participants were already suffering from cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s, whereas others were perfectly healthy.

Participants engaged in exercises including cycling, walking and running, which they performed roughly two to five times a week over the course of three to 24 months. So, what did researchers discover?

After analyzing the data, researchers found that exercise had no affect on the hippcampal volume of participants. It did, however, increase the size of the hippocampus’ left region. Because of this, researchers concluded that exercise can help protect against age-related brain shrinkage.

When speaking about the findings, lead researcher Joseph Firth explained that exercise triggers the release of a brain chemical, and this chemical could protect the brain from shrinking with age.

“When you exercise you produce a chemical called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which may help to prevent age-related decline by reducing the deterioration of the brain,“ says lead author and researcher Joseph Firth.

Of course, some people struggle to exercise and stay active as they age. As we grow older, our bones and joints begin to deteriorate, resulting in pain and inflammation. Otherwise normal tasks like jogging or even walking around the neighborhood can create severe pain and discomfort. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to live a sedentary lifespan, however. There are ways to exercise without stressing your bones and joints.

Swimming, for instance, is a low-impact exercise that’s perfect for seniors. The buoyant properties of the water create the perception of a no-gravity environment. As a result, minimal pressure is placed on your bones and joints, allowing you to exercise in the pool without pain.