People who are physically unfit are likely to experience more memory loss with time than people who remain well in shape, a new study finds.
Here's another reason for you to get out of that chair and take a stroll in the park or hit the gym. Michigan University researchers found that people who are physically fit are likely to experience lower memory loss as they age compared to those who remain out of shape.
Kimberly Fenn, study co-author and assistant professor of psychology states that aerobics is the best way to stay in shape.
Researchers of the study examined 75 college students during a two-day period. Prior to this, the aerobic fitness level of each student was measured using a treadmill test. Researchers also took into account other influencing factors like the participants' weight, percent body fat, age and sex.
On the first day, they were asked to study related word pairs such as "camp" and "trail." The next day researchers tested the participants' long-term memory retention and found that those who were less fit found it more difficult to retain information.
Fenn said that the findings of this study highlight the increasing number of people, especially students and teenagers in the United States who lead sedentary lifestyles. The team was surprised to find the large number of students that were out of shape and had trouble retaining information because of this.
In 2013, researchers at the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas reported similar findings. They noted that aerobics not only improves memory, but also boosts physical fitness and brain functions.
In May 2013, Dr. John Ratey, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, found that regular exercise promotes the release of brain chemicals that boost memory, concentration and mental sharpness.
The current study is one of the first to look into the association between exercise and memory decline among young and healthy adults. Previous studies conducted on the same subject have focused mainly on children whose brains are still developing, and the elderly, whose memories are declining.
The Centers for Disease and Control Prevention recommends that individuals aged between 18 and 64 years of age should indulge in 150 minutes of brisk walking every week.
Recently, Northwestern University researchers found that light physical activities can be very effective in keeping disabilities at bay.
The study was published online in the journal Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience.
