PHILADELPHIA: The beneficial effects of physical and mental exercise on brain health are already well established. A new American study has helped further pinpoint the impact of these two forms of exercise on the brains of aging adults. Aerobic exercise was found to improve memory, in particular, while cognitive brain training improved executive function.
Previous studies have established that aerobic exercise – such as walking, swimming or jogging – helps protect the brain against the effects of aging. This new study, from researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas, US, has found that physical activity alone is not enough to take care of the brain, as aerobic training principally benefits the memory.