Active in Midlife, Slightly Sharper Memory Later On
Graded Moderate — a review of 15 observational studies with 33,295 people, eight of them pooled; activity was only self-reported, and results varied widely.
- Design
- Meta-analysis
- Participants
- 33,295
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Weston Family Foundation
People who were active between 40 and 59 scored slightly better on memory and mental speed tests later in life.
People who were physically active between 40 and 59 did a little better on thinking tests years later. This held for overall thinking ability, for memory of words and for mental speed. The differences were small. Still, the authors consider them meaningful when looking at the population as a whole.
The team searched for studies that had followed adults without memory problems over many years. Fifteen studies with 33,295 people met the criteria, and just under two thirds were women. Eight could be combined in one calculation. The comparison was between people with little activity and those with moderate to high activity. There was no clear difference in planning and switching between tasks. The same was true for how quickly words came to mind.
Every study asked people how active they were instead of measuring it. The results of the single studies also varied widely. Whether the link differs between women and men cannot be said, because only one study looked at the sexes separately. And as observational data, the studies do not show that exercise directly protects thinking.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.
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