Generally speaking, what’s good for the body is good for the brain, and exercise is no exception. Any type of movement may be beneficial, but according to recent research, moderate and higher intensity workouts have a greater impact than light activity.
In a study that assessed the effects of exercise on cognitive performance, researchers came to the conclusion that the individuals with self-reported low levels of physical activity experienced greater declines in cognitive performance over time compared to subjects with self-reported higher levels of greater intensity exercise.
A standard neuropsychological examination (NPE) was performed, with a repeat examination five years later. To put it simply, this test found that even after five years, the results showed that those individuals with low levels of intensity exercise suffered from worse executive function like paying attention, organising, planning and, prioritising.
When compared to individuals who had higher levels of physical activity, these simple things wee reported to be done much better.
The main point that gave me the inspiration to put together this blog post was the affect of a lack of physical exercise and it’s link to Alzheimer’s disease.
A strong body of evidence indicates that Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment are disorders of insulin resistance, so any intervention that increases insulin sensitivity may have the added effect of protecting and preserving Brain Function.
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