According to research published ahead of print in the British
Journal of Sports Medicine, brain power decline can
be prevented and possibly even reversed by engaging in regular aerobic
exercise. Leading cognitive neuroscientists Art Kramer (US Beckman
Institute at the University of Illinois) and Kirk Erickson
(University of Pittsburgh) offer a critical evaluation of the large
number of studies that show how aerobic exercise and physical activity
can be beneficial to the aging brain.
Cognitive decline with aging has been linked to white and grey matter
deterioration in certain parts of the brain. The greatest effects of
cognitive decline are usually seen in activities such as task
coordination, planning, goal maintenance, working memory, and the
ability to switch tasks - a group of activities termed
"executive control."
Exercise effects on cognitive and neural plasticity in older
adults
British Journal of Sports Medicine
