Post by John A. Casler on Nov 4, 2008 14:10:02 GMT -8
ARCHIVED FROM SUPERTRAINING
The below seems relevant to previous discussions:
Exercise effects on cognitive and neural plasticity in older adults
Br J Sports Med. Published Online First: 16 October 2008.
doi:10.1136/bjsm.2008.052498
Copyright © 2008 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & British Association of
Sport and Exercise Medicine
Older adults frequently experience cognitive deficits accompanied by
deterioration of brain tissue and function in a number of cortical
and subcortical regions. Because of this common finding and the
increasing aging population in many countries throughout the world,
there is an increasing interest in assessing the possibility that
partaking in or changing certain lifestyles could prevent or reverse
cognitive and neural decay in older adults. In this review we
critically evaluate and summarize the cross-sectional and
longitudinal studies that assess the impact of aerobic exercise and
fitness on cognitive performance, brain volume, and brain function in
older adults with and without dementia.
We argue that six-months of
moderate levels of aerobic activity are sufficient to produce
significant improvements in cognitive function with the most dramatic
effects occurring on measures of executive control.
These
improvements are accompanied by altered brain activity measures and
increases in prefrontal and temporal grey matter volume that
translate into a more efficient and effective neural system.
The below seems relevant to previous discussions:
Exercise effects on cognitive and neural plasticity in older adults
Br J Sports Med. Published Online First: 16 October 2008.
doi:10.1136/bjsm.2008.052498
Copyright © 2008 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & British Association of
Sport and Exercise Medicine
Older adults frequently experience cognitive deficits accompanied by
deterioration of brain tissue and function in a number of cortical
and subcortical regions. Because of this common finding and the
increasing aging population in many countries throughout the world,
there is an increasing interest in assessing the possibility that
partaking in or changing certain lifestyles could prevent or reverse
cognitive and neural decay in older adults. In this review we
critically evaluate and summarize the cross-sectional and
longitudinal studies that assess the impact of aerobic exercise and
fitness on cognitive performance, brain volume, and brain function in
older adults with and without dementia.
We argue that six-months of
moderate levels of aerobic activity are sufficient to produce
significant improvements in cognitive function with the most dramatic
effects occurring on measures of executive control.
These
improvements are accompanied by altered brain activity measures and
increases in prefrontal and temporal grey matter volume that
translate into a more efficient and effective neural system.