NEW YORK (Dispatches) -- New studies indicate that older adults may be able to prevent declines in a certain kind of memory by sticking to regular exercise.
Psychologists from the University of Pittsburgh conducted a meta-analysis of 3,000 patients over 36 studies (carefully vetted from more than 1,200 studies in all) and found that specific exercise 3 times a week for 4 months helps episodic memory.
Lead author Sarah Aghjayan said they found that there were greater improvements in memory among those who are age 55 to 68 years compared to those who are 69 to 85 years old -- so intervening earlier is better. The team also found the greatest effects of exercise in those who hadn’t yet experienced any cognitive decline, and in studies where participants exercised consistently several times a week.
According to Aghjayan, there are still questions left to be answered. She said the team’s analysis couldn’t answer how the intensity of exercise affected the memory benefits, and there was plenty to learn about the mechanism behind the link. But the implications for public health were clear: exercise is an accessible way older adults can stave off memory declines, benefiting themselves, their caretakers and the healthcare system.